Commercial, Technology & Data

Whether you’re a technology innovator, developer or user, or whether you supply or manufacture products, we can provide advice and assistance in relation to projects in the following fields: software development, procurement and technology licensing including alternative energy systems. We can also help you on co-operation, collaboration and strategic alliances and on website and ecommerce compliance.

Contracts will always be tailored to your specific needs and will reflect our understanding of the business involved and the commercial deal.

One of the main features of good data protection compliance is a robust data management strategy. This should include reviewing how and why data is collected, where that data is stored, what it is used for, where it is transmitted to and how it is erased. Data accountability is a core underlying principle of the GDPR and it is important that businesses are able to demonstrate compliance with the law.

Our data protection lawyers have helped many businesses conduct gap analysis, identifying areas of risk and helping to put in place solutions to resolve the problems.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the biggest change to data protection law in a generation. We have a specialist team of data protection and IT lawyers who are recognised as leading experts in this complex and fast moving area of law.

We are advising many global brands, UK plcs and regional businesses on GDPR compliance. If you need assistance with making sure that your business is GDPR compliant, give us a call.

Do your terms adequately limit your liability? Do they ensure that you get paid on time and protect your intellectual property?
It’s not just a case of having terms and conditions, you also need to ensure that those terms apply to every contract. This often means looking at your sales and purchase documents as well as training your sales staff.

Whether you're trading on standard terms and conditions of sale or purchase or entering into long term supply or purchasing agreements, we’ll draft and prepare the relevant documents and help you properly implement them.

The GDPR will compel many businesses to appoint a data protection officer (DPO). We provide tailored DPO services including:

• Quarterly training events hosted by us, providing an opportunity to network with other DPOs and data professionals
• On-site training tailored to the needs of your business
• DPO knowledge support, providing a hot line to our expert lawyers for prompt advice on managing data issues

It's vital that the effect of competition law is considered in all trading arrangements as the implications of falling foul of the law are expensive with significant fines and criminal sanctions. We can get your agreements in a form that keeps you on the right side of the law.

Competition law also applies if you are planning a merger and we’ll help you to achieve a merger or acquisition through our control process. We can ensure you don’t breach competition law by drafting procedures and compliance programmes and training your staff on the implications.

For many businesses, the thorny side of the data protection law is compliance with subject access requests. They can be very time consuming and complex. We are able to support your business in managing the request, analysing data in readiness for release to the data subject and dealing with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

We have acted for many businesses, both large and small, in dealing with data security breaches. We can assist in preparing security breach reports to the Information Commissioner’s Office and dealing with correspondence and representation with the Information Rights Tribunal.

Businesses often begin trading with the flexibility of a partnership and professional practices often set up as limited liability partnerships (LLPs). We’ll advise on the options available and then help you set up the form of business structure that works for you.

Knowing that business models change over time, we can also convert your partnership to an LLP and help with resolving the breakdown of professional relationships, exit strategies, retirement and expulsions issues.

If you’re manufacturing or supplying goods, your choice of how you distribute those goods is vitally important to commercial success. Will you appoint distributors or agents to resell? Or will you sell directly? We’ll consider with you the best strategy for your business and the protection of your brand.

If trading internationally, we can call on our contacts at law firms around the globe for advice on local laws, enforcement and other key issues.  

One of the biggest issues that many businesses face with data protection compliance is a knowledge gap. We have developed specialist training techniques for data protection compliance. We can provide foundation training (for those with little or no knowledge) or professional training (aimed at those who are Data Protection Officers or in house lawyers).

Additionally, if you would like a member of our specialist team to attend an event to present on issues regarding the GDPR or to provide a comment for a publication, please do get in touch with us on [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!