Strength in technology

A smart approach to sourcing

We advise clients throughout the technology sector. Our research into procurement processes has highlighted the need to place procurement at the core of corporate strategy, strengthen vendor-customer relationships and adopt a more sophisticated approach to risk: our technology and outsourcing capabilities include senior people with specialised knowledge of this area. We advise on all aspects of technology law: procurement, development, licensing, use of hardware, application of software and provision of services.

We deliver

specialists in smart sourcing
expertise in food, beverage and consumer goods
in-depth market research into industry best practice
expertise in biotechnology
advice on the exploitation, use and enforcement of intellectual property rights
in depth experience of the pharmaceutical sector
experience of innovative cross-border telecoms projects
specialists in media convergence and new technology platforms
support with brand protection and digital rights management
a dedicated antitrust, competition and regulatory practice
expertise in consolidation, M&A and restructuring in the global technology sector
technology specialists and experience throughout emerging and transition markets

Top tier

Corporate finance: AIM
Chambers UK 2010

No.1

Public procurement law firm of the year
ACQ Finance 2009

Deal of the year
Acquisition of a stake in Spice Communications
Indian Business Law Journal 2008

Deal of the year (Yemen)
US$20m financing for Mobile Telephony Sabafon
Islamic Finance News 2008

Technology track record

In the last 12 months we have advised

Vodafone on the US$900 million acquisition of a controlling stake in Ghana Telecom
Indian generic drug manufacturer Ranbaxy on the successful conclusion of a six-year battle against criminal charges around allegations of price-fixing cartels
Greek software house Neurosoft on its admission to trading on AIM Italia
Japanese technology company Showa Denko KK on the acquisition of F2 Chemicals Ltd from Mitsubishi Group and Asahi Glass Co. Ltd
Axiata Group Berhad on the award-winning acquisition by Idea Cellular Limited, with our client, of a stake in Spice Communications Limited - one of the biggest Indian telecoms deals to date
FTSE 100 financial services group Friends Provident on a £200m IT infrastructure transformational outsourcing deal with IBM - the deal was expected to generate savings for Friends Provident of £6m per year
cable company Eiffage and others on the set-up of a high speed telecommunications network in Paris
Japanese pharmaceuticals group Daiichi Sankyo on the acquisition of German biopharma company U3 Pharma AG
Oracle Systems Corporation on the acquisition of Advanced Visual Technology Ltd
Sumitomo on the acquisition of a strategic stake in MTASB, the first mobile voice network operator in Malaysia
Indian chemical manufacturer Gharda on a patent dispute with its previous European distributor
IT services provider Steria Services Limited on a complex integration within the group involving employment and employee incentives advice
France Telecom on its participation in the Tunisian Government tender involving fixed line and 3G mobile licences in Tunisia
the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport on competition law issues relating to the Government’s review of public service broadcasting (Digital Britain)

“This team is particularly recommended for its IP and patent litigation expertise… Sources emphasise the [telecoms] team's understanding of M&A activity and privatisations in the emerging markets, especially Africa” Chambers UK 2010