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Technology and digital commerce lawyers

Digital and technology-focused businesses come to Withers when they want decisive advice. We offer global support to help you keep pace with regulatory frameworks in different jurisdictions, and have extensive background advising on licensing and procurement.

Withers' global offering is especially useful to fast-growing digital businesses.

With offices around the world, we can advise on how to comply with the complex regulatory frameworks in different jurisdictions. Our knowledge spans electronic marketing, online promotional games, escrow, software development, domain name registration and peer-to-peer lending.

We have advised on the creation of social media platforms and digital commerce solutions for major fashion brands and for some of the biggest football clubs in the world. We acted for Renault F1 in the acquisition of IT technology for use at the company's cutting-edge Control Fluid Dynamics center, and helped with the establishment of a technology industry body, Innovate Finance, which supports the growth of cutting-edge technologies in the UK's financial sector.
 
The team regularly advises clients across all sectors in relation to the acquisition and licensing of technology and data sitting across the table from large IT vendors. We have extensive background in this area having previously worked with some of the biggest names in the IT and software sector, such as Microsoft, Expedia and SunGard Data Systems.

We are here to guide you through each step of IT procurement – from contract review, drafting and negotiation to governance and compliance as the technology interfaces with other areas of business. We are also on hand to deal with any technology-related issues that are thrown up during corporate transactions such as acquisitions or restructuring.

Our team assists businesses negotiating their way through technology regulation, such as laws dealing with e-commerce, digital signatures, financial services, data protection, advertising and protection of consumers in cyberspace.
 

Helping you understand and comply with international regulations

And as governments around the world play catch-up in trying to regulate the internet and fintech, we are often called upon by technology clients and financial services sector providers to help them understand and comply with international regulations. 'Having certainty that you can apply your business model internationally is incredibly important in financial services and technology, but standards in one country might not be the same in another. Having both industry knowledge and specialist lawyers in the US and Europe means we can stay on top of that,' comments partner Kenneth Mullen.

Alongside your company's development, we will devise robust protection strategies to ensure your intellectual property rights in respect of your data, know-how and technology are secure.

Track record

Incorrect implementation of e-commerce platform

Assisted a famous designer of luxury shoes in a litigation against a contractual counterparty for an incorrect implementation of their e-commerce platform. The complexity of the transaction is dictated mainly by the multiplicity of legal aspects affecting the relationship between the parties.

Our team

Sarah Barker

Sarah Barker

Partner | Head of art law | London

Sarah Barker

Partner | Head of art law | London

Art law

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Kenneth Mullen

Kenneth Mullen

Partner | London

Kenneth Mullen

Partner | London

IP, commercial and technology

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Jacopo Liguori

Jacopo Liguori

Partner | Milan

Jacopo Liguori

Partner | Milan

IP, commercial and technology

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Ali Woodcock-West

Ali Woodcock-West

Associate | London

Ali Woodcock-West

Associate | London

IP, commercial and technology

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Insight

Typical clients and industries include

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Leaders and senior executives

We help business leaders to manage their responsibilities at work and home – from advising on employment contracts and regulatory matters, to dealing with tax, wills and prenuptial agreements. Find Out More
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Life sciences and healthcare

Life sciences are in the limelight and our diverse team from a range of scientific and industry backgrounds is highly experienced in getting innovative therapies, drugs and devices to market. Find Out More
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Private companies

As a private company, you need reliable, efficient service. As the only global law firm focused on private capital, we are here to help you protect your interests at every stage of the lifecycle. Find Out More

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