WHAT THE COMMERCIAL/IP/IT TEAM CAN DO TO HELP YOUR CLIENTS

COMMERCIAL AND COMPETITION
Client supplies products or services to businesses and individuals We draft terms and conditions of sale to cover ANY situation or ANY product or services.
Client appoints a middleman to supply or resell its products or services We draft and negotiate agency agreements, franchise agreements and distribution agreements. We deal with the EU and UK competition law aspects in relation to the same and the Commercial Agents Regulations 1994.
Client appoints third parties to help it with its business needs We draft and negotiate consultancy contracts, marketing and merchandising agreements, sponsorship agreements, research and development agreements and deal with collaborations and strategic alliances.
Client wants to appoint a third party to carry out a business function for it outside the business We draft and negotiate outsourcing agreements covering a wide variety of situations such as IT, business processes, logistics, catering, offshoring etc.
Client purchases products for their business We draft terms and conditions of purchase to cover ANY situation or ANY product or services.
 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Client wants to use someone else's materials or trade marks or Client wants to give someone a right to use its materials or trade marks We draft and negotiate all types of licensing arrangements for intellectual property rights.
Client wants to sell or buy trade marks or domain names or otherwise assign its intellectual property rights We draft and negotiate assignments.
Client wants to manage and protect its brands and intellectual property rights We give advice on brand protection and management. We can help with advice and registration and enforcement of intellectual property rights. We do IP audits, valuations and investigations.
Client wants to disclose but also protect trade secrets or confidential information We draft and negotiate confidentiality agreements.
Client wants to develop new products We draft and negotiate product development agreements and joint venture agreements.
 
IT
Client buys or supplies software or appoints a middleman to supply its software We draft software licences, application service provider (ASP) agreements, reseller and agency agreements.
Client asks supplier to develop customised software or Client develops customised software for a customer We draft and negotiate software development agreements.
Client provides services to help if there are issues with the software or to provide updates and upgrades We draft and negotiate support and maintenance agreements.
Client needs training or needs to train a customer to use IT We draft and negotiate IT training agreements.
Client manages someone else's IT hardware and software or Client needs someone to manage their IT hardware and software We draft and negotiate outsourcing and facilities management services agreements.
Client sells or obtains data or Client collects, holds or uses data about living individuals We draft and negotiate agreements relating to obtaining or selling data. And data protection issues generally.
Client deals with the public sector We advise on how to access data about the client's competitors and how to guard against competitors obtaining data about the client, under freedom of information laws.
 
INTERNET AND ECOMMERCE
Client is a web designer or ISP hosting a website We produce terms and conditions to design and host websites.
Client needs an important website built or its website hosted We draft and negotiate contracts that make it clear what must be delivered by the designer and when and how it will be hosted.
Client sells goods or supplies services on-line We draft terms and conditions that help protect the client, for example against losses resulting from pricing mistakes on the website.
Client wants to have or receive links involving another website We advise on copyright issues with linking. We draft and negotiate linking agreements to make it clear how the two parties can describe their relationship and also if there are any financial or liability implications.
Client wants to make money from having adverts on its website or wants to advertise on another's site We draft and negotiate online advertising agreements, including making it clear the basis for payment.
Client needs to know that its website is "legal" and that it does not have liability to third parties We do website "legal audits", where we identify risks and areas to be changed. We also draft terms and conditions of use of websites to regulate use and mis-use by visitors.
Client wants to protect its website against copying and collects data about living individuals We draft copyright notices and privacy statements and advise on how to use them.
 
CORPORATE SUPPORT
Client is buying or selling a business which has IT systems or intellectual property rights We carry out due diligence and draft and negotiate warranties in relation to the sale and purchase agreement. We draft and negotiate assignments/cross licensing agreements to obtain all relevant rights and assets for the Client.
 
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Client has problems with suppliers or licensees/licensors of its IP rights We give advice on how best to get them sorted - quickly and cost-effectively through pre-action dispute resolution or taking litigation action.
Client wants advice on dealing with disgruntled customers or licensees/licensors and what their rights are We give advice on dealing with these issues and can take action if matters are not resolved.
Client has a domain name dispute/Client wants to enforce IT and email policies and protect its IT assets from disgruntled staff and ex-employees We can handle disputes, engage in pre-action dispute resolution and take litigation action.