Technology, media & telecommunications

With many Bristows lawyers having a technical background, we are uniquely equipped to advise businesses in this fast-changing sector. Our clients include some of largest companies in the technology, media and telecoms industries - they range from network operators to mobile phone retailers, newspaper groups to new media start-ups as well as leading film and television companies.

Our reputation means we have been sought out to advise on many of the headline-grabbing cases in recent years, from major outsourcing projects and brand protection to mergers & acquisitions, tax and major disputes. Over the last 3 years, we have acted on various matters for 10 out of the top 20 largest IT companies in the world.

Recently we have advised:

A household name logistics provider in connection with several business process outsourcing transactions, including finance & accounting and payroll outsourcing
Customers and IT suppliers with respect to the issues raised by "cloud computing", particularly as they relate to service level agreements and data security
A well-known IT supplier on the negotiation of several systems integrations projects with public sector organisations, including healthcare, law enforcement and local government
A financial services firm on the procurement of a new communications system. In addition to advising on the implementation of cutting edge technology we helped to ensure that such the project would allow the firm to continue to operate in full compliance with FSA guidance (e.g. around recording investor calls and more generally in relation to “material” outsourcing transactions)
A mobile handset manufacturer in connection with its data protection compliance in multiple countries around the world - we implemented a solution to enable its international data transfer to continue unimpeded
A well-known IT services company on disputes connected to several large-scale "troubled" IT and outsourcing projects

TMT team of the year - Finalist - The Lawyer Awards 2012

"This firm is renowned for its handling of outsourcing, data protection, telecoms, and cloud computing matters, while it can also draw upon some of the most formidable IP practitioners in the market. It acts for the Business Software Alliance on the enforcement of software licences within the UK; this organisation comprises major software companies including Microsoft, Autodesk, Apple, Adobe and Symantec. The firm has also acted for Capgemini on a range of non-contentious and contentious IT matters, including representing the client in a dispute with Cable & Wireless concerning data back-up charges." - Chambers and Partners 2013

"This important player in the IT legal advisory market has recently strengthened its team with two lateral hires. Bristows is also recognised for data protection work and is notable for the variety of its IT expertise offering. Recent work highlights include acting for Google on a Europe-wide basis in relation to issues arising from its inadvertent collection of data from WiFi networks through photography for its StreetView service. The firm also counts IBM and SAS Institute among key clients. "Their client care is exactly what technology clients want." - Chambers and Partners 2012

"This firm's technology team handles an increasingly broad spread of work, from data protection to large public sector procurements. It represents clients in a variety of sectors, and has particular expertise in telecoms IT. Bristows acted for Wincanton on a ten-year back office programme involving IBM, Accenture, Oracle and specialist payroll vendors at a specially built delivery centre in India." - Chambers and Partners 2011

"Their knowledge of the industry is first-rate, especially at partner level." - Chambers and Partners 2011

Winners of TMT Team of the Year 2010 - The Lawyers Awards 2010