DEFENCE & SECURITY Staying at the forefront of change

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.