We are specialists in key service areas.

Commercial

In today’s commercial world, connected through relationships spanning the globe, it is more important than ever for contracts to be drafted and negotiated by lawyers who understand your business. We regularly negotiate the whole range of commercial contracts – from simple website terms and conditions, through to the most complex outsourcing agreements.

We work with clients to create joint ventures and partnerships; to licence their products and services; to appoint distributors; and to procure components and services. In the technology sector, we work with hardware and software companies on their research, development and licensing.

Construction, engineering and infrastructure

We have a particularly strong team of construction lawyers, who provide advice on the funding, delivery, maintenance and operation of building, engineering and infrastructure projects across the globe. We also help clients to resolve disputes related to time and money claims and defective works.

We bring innovative thinking to projects that rely upon complex supply chains and those delivering mission-critical operations. We have deep experience of working on Technology Infrastructure projects and projects with a high technology element. Our BuildTech team also works with technology companies creating innovation within the construction sector.

Corporate

We provide corporate advice for businesses operating in the technology and built environment sectors.

We build enduring relationships with entrepreneurial companies from start-ups through to growth-stage and more mature companies. We also provide valuable advice to the angels and the venture capital investors who are providing funding to them. Our work includes equity and debt finance transactions and corporate mergers and acquisitions. We have particular expertise and experience working with BuildTech businesses.

Privacy, data protection and cybersecurity

Data is a core asset for most of our clients. The explosion of data collection, usage and sharing has caused considerable challenges for regulators, leaving businesses to deal with a multitude of laws and regulations across the globe.

We advise clients on issues such as data sovereignty, global privacy compliance, data processing, transfers and sharing, and the use of cookies. We also help clients deal with minor or major data breach incidents, and support them in engaging specialists for data retention, backup and breach investigation.

Dispute resolution

Whilst we all seek to avoid them, disputes are now an inevitable consequence of the complex world in which we operate. We work with clients to get behind the veneer and assess the issues really in play, to identify how disputes can be resolved at the earliest point whilst delivering successful outcomes, and where unavoidable, by presenting robust prosecution or defence through the courts.

We make use of dispute technologies, such as e-disclosure, to reduce costs and our lawyers are highly experienced in adjudication, arbitration, litigation as well as being accredited mediators.

Employment

The world of work is changing, with new labour models evolving all the time. We provide expertise in both traditional and non-traditional employment contracts, consultancy agreements and policy documents.

For corporate mergers and acquisitions, we understand the value of due diligence to ensure key personnel remain and that the risks of inheriting a workforce are understood. We help clients with disciplinary and grievance procedures, recognising that employment issues are often emotionally charged, and we provide sensitive and rounded support.

Intellectual property

How content is consumed has changed immeasurably over recent years, and so ensuring you have appropriate intellectual property rights, and that those rights are protected, is increasingly critical.

We help our clients to manage their portfolio of intellectual property assets, to identify IP-related risks and opportunities, ensuring they secure the appropriate rights when entering into commercial transactions and to exploit their IP rights. We also act for clients to address IP infringement issues.

Real estate

Our real estate team advises on the full range of commercial property transactions. We act for owners, investors and developers – ranging from private to institutional – across a variety of property assets, including housing, office, retail, hospitality and leisure, and industrial. We also act for corporate occupiers involved in lettings.

We have particular expertise and experience in Technology Infrastructure assets, such as leases and customer agreements in data centres and telecoms. Our real estate lawyers work closely with our construction, engineering and infrastructure team on development projects.

Regulatory and compliance

Businesses are subject to a complex array of legal and regulatory requirements, which are ever-evolving. For businesses operating in different countries, the need to comply with competing regulations can become a real challenge.

Our lawyers guide clients through regulations related to health, safety, environmental and climate change, telecommunications and data protection.

As regulations often lag behind technological innovation, we work to help clients understand the regulatory landscape and the risks involved. Barriers to market entry caused by difficult regulatory issues can create a competitive advantage when properly managed.