Legal 500: Firms switch on to technology opportunities

THE growing significance of the Technology, Media and Telecoms sector continues to provide work for many of the big law firms both in Birmingham and beyond, according to The Legal 500.

All this week, TheBusinessDesk.com in association with RBS is taking a sector-by-sector look at the state of the region’s legal market as outlined in the latest Legal 500 report.   

Sector specialist Technology Law Alliance is said to understand ‘what clients can do and can provide relevant advice and experience’. The team advised Firstsource on a major telecoms sector outsourcing, and also acted for Columbus IT and Postcode Anywhere. Jagvinder Kang is said to ‘listen, understand and deliver the message in business English’, while Stephen Ollerenshaw is’ focused, commercial and pragmatic and gets things done’.

Wragge & Co is said to be ‘absolutely excellent – response times are always in the timescales promised and advice is pragmatic’. The team advised BP on consolidating its contract for IT services, Sally Mewies has ‘unsurpassed knowledge in the UK and US, the most exceptional ability to think laterally, and is a tough but adaptable negotiator’.

Leading the following pack is Simon Jones’ team at DLA Piper, which has a strong central government and financial services focus, acting for clients such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Barclays. The team also advised the NHS on renegotiating its arrangement with Computer Sciences regarding the National Programming for IT.

Next comes Eversheds, where Charlotte Walker-Osborn is ‘very thorough, and punches well above her experience’. The team acted for M&B Retail on its reprocurement of outsourced data, telecoms and computing services, and advised a leading life assurance company on negotiating an actuarial system.

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Martineau acts for Rackspace, one of the largest website hosting companies, and recently advised it on a new suite of service contracts. It also represented Desi Mobile on contractual and legal matters leading up to its launch. Des Burley is the key contact.

Pinsent Masons acts for clients such as airport group BAA, Boots and Siemens, and is noted for its experience across outsourcing deals, procurement, data protection, telecoms, regulatory issues and data centre services. Jonathan Fell is singled out as a ‘persuasive negotiator who knows his stuff’.

Shakespeares continues to act for longstanding clients such as Logica, while its merger with Berryman has improved its presence in the East Midlands and lead to new clients such as LG.

At Squire Sanders Hammonds, Stuart James ‘demonstrates fantastic skill/experience in contractual negotiations’.  The firm advised longstanding client National Grid on its acquisition of a new electricity balancing system. It has also collected new clients such as Game Group.

Browne Jacobson advised Thorntons on a new outsourcing arrangement and acts for clients such as Amcor Group, Staffordshire Council and Mace Group, while Wright Hassall is said to handle a significant amount of work for Capgemini UK.

In the field of intellectual property, clients are said to place a great deal of value on the advice received from Wragge & Co, where Nick Cunningham advised the Liberal Democrat Party on reputational issues, while Gordon Harris represented Premium Aircraft Interiors Group in a patent dispute regarding aircraft seats.

In the same field, DLA Piper’s ‘strongest qualities lie in its depth of knowledge, a thorough understanding of patents, and a team that is very communicative and inclusive of the client’. It advised Avon Cosmetics on the IP aspects of its acquisition of Liz Earle Cosmetics and represented Aga Rangemaster in patent infringement proceedings.

Pinsent Masons successfully represented Nanjing Automobile in the High Court and Court of Appeal regarding the infringement and passing off of the MG trade mark and famous octagon badge logo. Other clients include Cadbury-owner Kraft Foods, LG and Aviva.

Squire Sanders Hammonds is currently acting for the Secretary of State for Health in pursuing NHS Yearbook for trademark infringement, and regularly advises Delta Anti-Piracy on infringement matters.

In 2010, Browne Jacobson won new clients such as Thorntons, Bad Company and Codemasters, while Cobbetts advised EMIS on the IP aspects of entering the AIM Market and its subsequent acquisition of the majority of share capital of RX Systems.

The team at Eversheds is said to be ‘dedicated to driving projects to completion in a commercial way’, while Gateley is singled out for its advice to Bliss Homes on brand and image licensing. It also advised on the licensed IP rights for the Modec/Navistar joint venture.

Martineau continues to advise Lyle & Scott in the long-running trade mark dispute with American Eagle outfitters and advises Springfoam Technology on whether developments are patentable.

Shakespeares is said to deliver ‘value for money’ and ‘advice that is clear and unambiguous’. It advised Cambridge Weight Plan on the development of a new brand and the policing of third party infringers.
 
In Media and Entertainment, Wragge & Co is once again top dog. It successfully obtained an interim injunction for Unilever to prevent the British National Party from using the Marmite brand in its election broadcast in a false endorsement action, and advised the Liberal Democrat Party on deformation issues throughout the general election. Other clients include Orion Media and Turner Broadcasting.

Few other firms are active in this field but Cobbetts is singled out for winning new clients such as BFC Media and Middle Ground Theatre Company, while continuing to act for First Light Movies and Performance Birmingham. Elsewhere, KJD Freeth is following on from advising Screen West Midlands and funders on setting up Channel 4 Digital Hub by assisting on the roll-out of media projects and other co-investment opportunities.

In Sport, Beswicks Solicitors is said to have an ‘outstanding, very professional and reliable team’. It is advising the United Soccer League on the recent Super League agreement, and is increasingly acting for cricket clubs and players on immigration issues, as well as negotiating player contracts for international tournaments.

Beachcroft counts FIFA, Manchester United and the England and Wales among its client base, while Clarke Willmott acts for Aston Villa, Birmingham City and Warwickshire County Cricket Club. Its recent panel appointments include UK Sport and The Jockey Club.

Warwickshire firm Wright Hassall’s service is said to be ‘first class; the advice is always practical and protects the legal interests of clients’. The firm acts for individuals and governing bodies such as the British Show Jumping Association.