Digital & Technology

We advise businesses at the cutting edge of AI, robotics and machine learning on matters from corporate and commercial issues, to intellectual property and data protection advice, to employment issues and commercial disputes.

Our recent work includes:

• Advising the creator of cloud-based sound software involving AI on corporate, commercial and complex intellectual property matters.
• Advising a robotics, automation and machine learning food preparation innovator, on a seed investment round and employment as well as employment and shareholder matters.
• Advising a venture capital fund on strategic investment in smart voice and video notes platform which uses AI to create insights for operation and client engagement teams.
• Advising a developer of AI for use in iGaming (sports, casino and bingo) on an investment pursuant to the UK Government’s Future Fund scheme and other commercial arrangements.
• Advising a Swiss technology company at the forefront of semantic AI-driven code analysis on its acquisition by a market leader in developer application security.
• Advising an AI software company that developed a tool which improves production yield with the aim of reducing energy consumption on the UK Government’s Future Fund.

You can see our Commercial contracts page here, our Data Privacy and Data Protection page here and our Corporate page here for more details.

Our lawyers have significant experience in advising on commercial and regulatory issues that arise in the online space, including mobile app development, social media, adtech, ecommerce and online consumer regulations.

Our recent work includes:

• Advising a multinational technology company on various technology and regulatory matters to facilitate the development of a new mobile technology healthcare service application.
• Advising a publisher of a well-known online style magazine, on several corporate and commercial matters, including financing, licensing intellectual property and data protection.
• Advising a fast-growing kids digital media agency, on fundraising, commercial agreements, intellectual property and Enterprise Management Incentives.
• Advising a fintech company which enables e-commerce merchants and online payments facilitators to consolidate payment services through a single unified API on multiple rounds of funding, including a £14 million Series A fundraising led by a leading US-based venture capital firm.
• Advising a leading advertising technology business on a variety of matters, including options, financing, property, commercial and employment issues.

You can see our Commercial contracts page here, our Data Privacy and Data Protection page here and our Corporate page here for more details.

We have cross-departmental expertise in blockchain as well as other distributed ledger technology, and can advise on all legal aspects. Our clients across a variety of industries are increasingly using blockchain, including to trace transactions and map supply chains.

Our recent work includes:

• Advising a global diamond trading corporation on the development and launch of an industry pioneering blockchain platform.
• Advising a start-up business on the implications of using blockchain technology as a key verification tool in an industry supply chain.
• Advising a global consumer products company on various compliance issues associated with the use of blockchain in relation to its supply chain processes.
• Advising a global advertising agency network on the development of a blockchain solution designed to ensure transparency in the adtech supply chain.

We advise on legal issues, tax issues, transactions and disputes involving crypto assets and crypto currency.

Our recent work includes:

• Advising holders of substantial crypto assets on the regulation of crypto assets and transferring their crypto assets into the ‘real world’ economy.
• Advising a digital currency distribution platform on its agreements with partners and customers in relation to its blockchain technology service.
• Advising on the use of cryptocurrency within an online video game, including regulatory implications in multiple countries.

You can see our Crypto assets and crypto currency investigations and disputes page here for more details.

The popularity of NFTs spans the world of games, fashion, music and beyond. We advise on creating and monetising NFTs, commercial contracts and licences involving NFTs, as well as related IP, marketing, advertising and tax matters across a number of sectors.

Our recent work includes:

• Advising high profile individuals on the licencing of their name and likeness for use in NFTs and contractual arrangements with NFT marketplaces.
• Advising companies on the launch of NFT collections, including advising on IP issues, advertising & marketing, and contractual documentation.
• Advising charitable foundations investing in artwork NFTs.

Please also see Blockchain and other distributed ledger technology and Crypto assets and crypto currency above for details of related work.

You can also see our Fashion page here and our Video Games page here for more information on our work in these sectors.

We have cross-departmental expertise in immersive technology including virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality and haptics. We advise businesses in the immersive technology space on commercial contracts and legal issues from intellectual property, to data protection, to corporate and contentious matters.

We see growing commercialisation of immersive technology by both start-ups and established businesses across an increasingly wide range of sectors, from games development, to film and tv, to fashion and retail, to advertising and education.

You can see our Data Privacy and Data Protection page for here more details.

We regularly advise clients from a broad range of sectors on ‘traditional’ IT contracts (such as software licensing and outsourcing) and technology transactions, including:

• Technology contracts such as system integration, IT procurement, service level agreements, and software development.
• Issues relating to the licensing and use of open source software.
• Cloud computing issues on both the customer and vendor side including SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS.
• Industry specific contracts such as in-flight entertainment services, ticketing agreements, adtech contracts, digital cinema distribution and ecommerce deals.

You can see our Commercial contracts page here for more details.

We advise companies at the forefront of digital transformation, as well as companies implementing digital transformation strategies.

We have particular expertise in advising large ‘legacy’ entertainment businesses and global brands (such as film studios, production companies, fashion brands, retail businesses and consumer packaged goods companies) on the legal implications of their digital transformations.

We also advise businesses that provide digital transformation services, for example, we advise The Panoply Holdings plc, an AIM listed business which specialises in digital transformation, on a variety of corporate and commercial matters.

You can see our Commercial contracts page here for more details.

We structure our data protection team as a cross-departmental group across our commercial, employment and litigation groups. We advise on all key data protection compliance areas (such as compliance programmes, international data transfer issues, data breaches, and individual data requests). However, we have developed a significant reputation for helping clients with complex data protection issues which are very specific to the core industry sectors on which we focus. Our data protection team also stands out particularly because of its strength in both non-contentious as well as contentious data protection matters (particularly where there are reputational issues at stake).

Our deep experience and expertise in digital and technology feeds into our privacy and data protection work. We frequently advise on cutting-edge privacy and data protection issues involving areas such as AI, immersive technology, adtech and programmatic advertising, and digital transformations.

You can see our Data Privacy and Data Protection page here for more details.

We advise on disputes across the digital and tech space, whether they involve crypto assets, blockchain, AI, IT contracts, digital transformation, big data, cybersecurity or otherwise.

Our recent work includes:

• Advising a search engine provider in respect of pre-action contractual termination issues.
• Advising a leading engineering group in pursuing contractual and other claims in respect of a technology sharing agreement relating to software and data.
• Advising designers and developers of mobile telecommunication hardware and software in a claim for ‘earn-out’ payments due in respect of the fulfilment of technical performance criteria.
• Advising a business on contractual and other claims arising out of a significant data breach.

You can see our Technology disputes page here for more details.

• Emma Wright scoops two awards at the Forward Ladies Leadership Summit and Awards 2023