Technology & Communications
Few industries evolve more quickly than technology and communications, so protecting proprietary data and innovations, securing skilled staff, maximising contractual relationships and exploiting brand assets are critically important.
Our specialist technology team has a proven track record across all operational and strategic areas of our clients’ businesses, from innovative start-ups through to the most celebrated global brands in the sector. Our job is to help the players stay ahead of the game, providing legal and commercial advice which is as focused and forward-thinking as they are.
Technology and communications is a core sector for us, so we continue to invest heavily to ensure we provide market leading legal advice that helps our clients to stay at the cutting edge. Our specialists regularly advise on technology transactions ranging from cloud solutions, cross-border digital regulation, content sharing, managed services and outsourcing, to data protection, cyber security and public and private fundraising, as well as the employment, and intellectual property issues that keep our clients’ businesses running smoothly.
Related items
Changes to IR35: How will it affect the technology sector?
24 May 2019In a fundamental reform to combat so called 'false self-employment', businesses who engage contractors will have to bear the risk of PAYE and NICs under IR35. This will apply to all businesses in the private sector from April 2020.
This Place Minds: Promoting positive mental wellbeing in the technology sector
14 May 2019Mental wellbeing is rising to the top of corporate agendas. Organisations are increasingly aware that a failure to address employee “wellness”, and particularly issues around mental health, can be costly. Poor mental health at work costs the UK economy up to £99 billion each year. There is clear evidence that employers who promote positive mental health in the workplace have a happier and more productive workforce.
Government’s “porn block” roll out delayed
01 April 2019Two weeks ago we commented on the anticipated introduction of age verification controls on porn sites which were due to come into force today. It is now understood that the implementation of these controls has been delayed, with some media outlets reporting that an official announcement is expected this week.
Programmatically Speaking
28 March 2019What does this year and next hold in store for the sellers and buyers of digital advertising inventory and those in between?
Technology, Customer Authentication and PSD2: payment service providers (and retailers) - are you ready?
25 March 2019Apparently, we will, globally, spend some $4.9 trillion in e-Commerce transactions by 2021. Smartphones generated over 42% of eCommerce revenues in 2018 and there has been a ten-fold increase in biometric smartphones in the last two years. However, against the backdrop of our increasing transactional reliance on smartphones and other mobile devices, e-Commerce fraud increased by 33% in 2016. This put pressure on the EU to keep up with the way in which we shop and to enhance consumer protection by reducing the potential for fraud.
Social media platforms under increasing pressure to protect users from harm
21 March 2019For many of us, using social media has become an integral part of life. However we are increasingly aware of the impact of social media on mental health and the harm that can be caused from exposure to certain content which is easily accessible online, as well as the harm that can be caused from misuse of personal data and data breaches. Access to content promoting terrorism and the increasing prevalence of ‘fake news’ and hate speech have all made headlines recently.
JJ Shaw writes for Sportcal – AI: changing the game.
12 March 2019JJ Shaw has written an article for Sportcal where he discusses the innovative developments in Artificial Intelligence within the sports industry, the need for AI specific regulations as well as the debate around ownership and access to data.
New Start-up and innovator categories and changes for investors from 29 March 2019
12 March 2019On 7 March 2019 the Home Office published a Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (HC 1919), which contains substantial changes to business and investment-related immigration categories from 29 March 2019. These include the replacement of Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) with a new Start-up category, and the replacement of Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) with a new Innovator category. There are transitional arrangements to allow those in the existing entrepreneur category to extend their stay and settle in the UK. There is also a significant tightening of the requirements under the Tier 1 (Investor) category.