Specialist expertise
Paul advises on all areas of commercial law, with a particular focus on IT, IP, online and data protection issues, including: B2B, B2C and B2G contracts; drafting, reviewing and negotiating agreements and terms & conditions for supply of goods or services or software, or the purchase of goods or services or business-critical software; software licences; support & maintenance agreements; software as a service agreements; bespoke IT and web development agreements; outsourcing agreements; agency, distribution, merchandising, sponsorship, reseller and franchise agreements; Commercial Agents Regulations; competition law; IP (such as copyright, trade mark, design and patent) assignments and licences; confidentiality and know-how agreements; data protection; marketing law; brand advice; promotions and competitions; gambling law; freedom of information law; and other general legal advice in a commercial context involving day-to-day business issues including whether to exercise certain rights in relation to existing agreements.
Paul has a particular focus on web and online legal issues, including: online trading terms and conditions for supply of goods, services and digital information; advice on online laws and regulations such as Distance Selling Regulations and E-Commerce Regulations; privacy statements/policies; website terms of use; website legal audits (including advice on online defamation); web development agreements; web hosting agreements; linking, pay-per-click, affiliate and online advertising agreements.
Examples of Clients
Atex Group, Coexis, Ecube Distribution, ESRI (UK) Galderma, IGD, LocalLife, Maxbips, Moreton Smith, Ravensburger, RFTGlobal, Sabien Technology, Sanyo, Schleich, The Promotions Practice, Thyron Systems; plus many SMEs.
Experience
Paul joined the firm in 2001 and was promoted to Associate in 2004 before being made Principal in 2009. Paul previously worked at Herbert Smith, DJ Freeman and Fox Williams. He has also spent time on secondments at ESRI (UK) and GE Money. Paul founded the Upload series of update publications and has been editor of the update service at www.upload-it.com since 2002. Paul regularly writes articles for leading legal and IT industry publications and appears in the national and local media (including Sky, BBC, the Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, Computing Magazine, IT Law Today, IT Week, PC Pro, Copyright World and the Society for Computers & Law). He gives presentations on Commercial, IP, IT, online and data protection topics.
Qualifications
LLB Hons
Recent examples of work
- Advised supplier of cutting edge business-critical software to investment banks on drafting and negotiating complex range of licensing, support and maintenance, value added reseller, “partnering” and development licence agreements.
- Drafted suite of “menu-type” terms and conditions and supporting schedules for key supplier of IT and IT services to leading newspaper publishers for use in many territories.
- Provided continuing advice to supplier of patented energy-efficient products including agreements through its distributors in many territories.
- Drafted terms and conditions for innovative provider of online services where financial institutions can bid in real-time auctions for investors’ term deposits.
- Drafted terms and conditions for web-based service offering travel-lovers novel opportunities to meet up and obtain revenues.
- Drafted variety of terms and conditions, privacy policies and website terms for clients’ supply of goods or services, whether for off-line or on-line use.
- Advised toy company on concession agreement for securing space in leading toy retailer.
- Drafted quasi-franchise agreement for auction service provider in relation to a network of estate agents providing properties for auction through that network.
- Reviewed and negotiated agreements granting clients merchandising rights to supply licensed products incorporating leading football and television character brands.