DEFENCE & SECURITY
Staying at the forefront of change
The shifting nature of modern warfare and
the emergence of new technologies is radically
disrupting the Defence & Security sector.
Businesses like yours are at the forefront of
this change. We are an international law firm
committed to clients being transformed by
technology and the digital world. You need
advisors who are fully focused on this sector
and it’s complexities, which is why we provide
a team of dedicated sector specialists who
understand how change impacts your business.
You need to be able to navigate the major
global revolutionary changes that are having
transformational impacts on this sector:
a technology revolution, the transition to net zero
and (for the UK particularly) Brexit. The world is
emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic and a new
geopolitical world order is coming more clearly
into view. We are at the centre of the debate on
these megatrends and their sector impacts and
this enables us to truly understand and deliver
the best advice to you.
You likely face complexities, challenges and opportunities in some or all of design and
manufacture, modification, integration,
maintenance, repair or overhaul, or through
life support of your products and services.
We offer clear and practical solutions, advising
on an extraordinary range of technologies in
the defence and security sector – from hardware
(e.g. submarines, satellites and all things that
fly) to software led products and services (e.g.
Artificial Intelligence, Unmanned and Data).
In this sector in particular you need a team that
you can rely on to meet and exceed requirements.
A number of our experts are security cleared,
our IT Systems are accredited to high standards
(including ISO 27001 and cyber essentials+ in the
UK) and we are well used to signing Security
Aspects Letters with our clients.
We operate as one truly global Defence &
Security team, and are able to support you
across both your core markets and ones you
are seeking to enter or grow in. You want lawyers
who can support you across the full spectrum
of your needs and we set out below the many
practice areas in which our specialist sector
expertise and understanding of the marketplace
enables us to add real value to you:
- Aerospace equipment maintenance and support solutions: Including power by the hour/performance-based logistics contracts.
- Collaboration structures: Including alliancing, teaming agreements, research and development and joint venturing.
- Compliance: Including anti-bribery and corruption.
- Corporate: Including M&A, JVs, Venture Capital, listings and reorganisations.
- Customer finance/leasing, asset management and Export Credit. • Cyber security and Intelligence.
- Data: In its broadest sense including protection of personal data (GDPR), privacy (particularly around surveillance activities) together with exploitation of ‘Big Data’.
- Debt and equity capital markets.
- Defence contracting and major government programmes for complex mission critical assets/homeland security, ranging from nuclear submarines to satellites to IT systems.
- Dispute resolution and investigations.
- Employment and immigration: Including national security considerations.
- Public procurement law: including regulated procurements (sole source or competitive), procurement strategy and challenges.
- Export control and customs: Including technology transfer and Offset/Industrial Participation. IP protection, exploitation and litigation.
- Insolvency & Restructuring: Advising all stakeholders involved (including liquidators, administrators, funders, suppliers, manufacturers and directors).
- National security issues such as the National Security & Investment Act in the UK and specialist due diligence on navigating government security requirements. • Real estate and construction.
- Product compliance and product liability.
- Space & satellites: Secure communications.
- Tax: Including holding structures, tax incentivisation, supply chain issues as well as transactional advice. • Unmanned Aerial Systems: Including data protection, privacy, certification and product liability.
