Practice areas

The all-pervading nature of IT in modern business means that every arrangement needs to be seen in context and there is little place for extreme negotiating positions to be maintained without compromise. Accordingly, we advise on IT arrangements in relation to specific business need and risk.

Our clients are involved in a broad range of activities within the wider IT umbrella, and we therefore have significant experience in relation to both technology which has been available for some time, as well as, emerging technologies. Underpinning our approach to IT lie in three core themes:

• Simplicity of approach: Given the often polar positions taken by the industry as regards liability, flexibility needs to be demonstrated on both sides to understand the potential impact of various default scenarios. It is in these situations where our clear advice on the underlying law and adherence to a policy of simplicity of drafting removes the all-too-familiar uncertainties caused by confused language.
• Technical expertise: Alongside simplicity of the contract form must sit technical expertise. Where the underlying technology and required outcome is clearly understood, then a sensible contract can be created.  We take the time with clients to familiarise ourselves with the products or services including any related jargon and acronym that often serves only to confuse, identify the critical issues and ensure that arrangements are finalised which manage the major risks.
• Relationships: IT arrangements are rarely point-in-time contracts, and where these require longer-term relationships between commercial parties, the approach taken by lawyers must be different. Allowing for the longer-term and future developments of which we may not now be aware, creates inherent risks for both parties. It is our role to minimise the uncertainties and risks where possible, as well as providing the flexibility of framework to allow the parties to move forward.