Our global multidisciplinary TMT disputes team leads the way in helping clients navigate complex cross-border and high-value technology disputes and, assisting businesses in the technology, media and telecommunications sectors minimise their exposure to contentious risk.
With the advent of the internet of things, the increasing use of AI and use of big data, smart technology is increasingly giving rise to complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes over technology development, software and data ownership, patent disputes around communication standards over FRAND terms, as well as contractual terms.
Our team advises on disputes and risk management across the TMT sector and is comprised of litigators, arbitrators, mediators, advocates and cyber/IT practitioners, as well as contentious lawyers in intellectual property, data privacy, cyber security, competition law, public procurement, regulatory law and tax.
Complementing our core TMT disputes practice, we are one of the few leading international law firms to have experienced and dedicated technology and digital teams across Europe, the Asia Pacific and the US. Distributed ledger technology (DLT) is a fast-evolving and hyped area of technological development that we have embraced, both as a firm and in our advice to clients. Our experience coupled with insight into the technology itself, as well as the regulatory environment in which it operates enables us to translate this knowledge into effective advice and transaction delivery for blockchain projects, acquisitions and disputes.
Data loss or cyber incidents pose major challenges to businesses, in terms of regulatory response and crisis management, to avoid damage to corporate and brand reputation and customer loyalty. Our global cyber response team is helping with increasing numbers of incidents and across all sectors. With increased use of data analytics, customer profiling and behavioural advertising in all sectors, data privacy compliance is critical. Our teams are seeing many more active claims brought by suppliers, contractors and now consumers (through class actions) over the consequences of data loss and cyber breach.
Our global data protection and privacy team are well-established advisers covering the full range of GDPR and other regulatory compliance, including data transfers, subject access requests, employee monitoring and surveillance, data breaches and data retention.
Technology and outsourcing
Our disputes work covers all aspects of the IT industry. We advise suppliers, customers and governments on all aspects of IT disputes including those arising from systems integration and outsourcing projects. The team handles disputes on technically complex electronics and electrical equipment issues, software development, and advises clients in the internet and e-commerce market segments. We are increasingly active in the fintech area and around cryptocurrencies and blockchain solutions.
Media and broadcasting
Our practice advises major broadcasters, content providers, media businesses and regulators on a wide range of contentious and regulatory matters. We advise on disputes about ownership and control, access to networks, regulation and competition, content rights and agreements, data privacy, defamation, piracy as well as the entire range of patent, trade secret, copyright infringement and other intellectual property disputes.
Telecommunications
In this sector our clients include licensees, operators, regulators, governments and customers ranging across the mobile, fixed line, wireless, cable, satellite, equipment, infrastructure, ISP and data network market segments. We advise on all aspects of contentious and regulatory issues.
