New technology is disrupting traditional business models and transforming organisations at an ever-increasing pace. 

Whether you're a technology vendor navigating this fast changing, multi-layer and –player environment, or a technology user with increasingly complex and business-critical sourcing requirements, our international Tech Transactions practice can help.

You'll benefit from our many decades of experience across every kind of technology deal including: technology transfers, strategic alliances and joint ventures; large scale IT and network projects, technology and BPO outsourcing; system implementations, and major cloud and IoT deals; and complex software licensing arrangements and contracts for the implementation of services and solutions based on new cutting-edge and disruptive technologies, such as 5G, blockchain, robotic process automation and artificial intelligence. 

Is tech at the heart of your next big deal? Our also plays a key role in Tech M&A deals by bringing a deep understanding of the underlying technology and IP that is being acquired, providing expertise in due diligence and risk assessment exercises, as well as experience in transitional services agreements and technology separation arrangements in support of the implementation of corporate deals. 

Working as an integrated global team, we can provide your business with unrivalled support on cross-border technology transactions.

Our lawyers also have extensive experience of supporting the implementation and in-life management of technology projects as well as the renegotiation of distressed projects. As a result, we are uniquely placed to provide you with an end-to-end service and support you through all stages of a technology project.

Recent highlights of work

  • The A400M Aircraft Programme is a high-value, multi-national, strategic project to design, manufacture and then support military airlift aircraft for a number of Governments. We advised Airbus Military on the project and created a legal framework for the delivery of training and in-service support for use across different countries with minimal amendment or reference to local law. This enables the A400M to be sold internationally using a consistent approach. We have applied the framework to the 18 year, £226 million training programme for the UK's Ministry of Defence, which delivers synthetic training equipment and a training centre at Brize Norton, as well as course materials and documentation, in a joint venture with Thales. We have also used it for the long-term contract with the Turkish Ministry of Defence to provide in-service support for its fleet of A400M aircraft.
  • We advised the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change on the £12bn roll out of 53m gas and electricity smart meters to homes and small businesses, the most significant change in the British energy market since the 1970s. Our role involved assisting on multiple, parallel procurements at a time of significant regulatory change. It required close teamwork with DECC and covered a range of areas, including energy, electronics, communications, IT, finance and major projects expertise.
  • We supported BT in its work on the £12bn Programme modernise the information technology infrastructure throughout the National Health Service in England. BT was responsible for building and operating the national 'Spine,' a database to contain electronic patient records for every man, woman and child in England. It also developed and deployed new software for use in every hospital, community health centre and general practitioner surgery in the Greater London area (one of five geographic regions covering the whole of England) and implemented a national broadband network for all communications and data transfers within the National Programme. Over an eight-year period, we assisted with the day-to-day programme management of each of these projects. Bird & Bird also assisted in a number of substantial renegotiations, often against a background of intense political and journalistic scrutiny.

Accolades

  • Long considered to be at the summit of commercial law as applied to science and technology. Highly recommended for digital transformation and the implementation of ambitious technology infrastructure projects.

    Chambers UK 2021, Information Technology, Band 1

  • Recognised in the market for significant strength in handling technology-related commercial transactions. Also acts for an impressive client list across a wide range of mandates including collaboration agreements, supply chain contracts and advertising matters.

    Chambers UK 2022, Commercial Contracts

  • Housing one of the market's leading IT practices, Bird & Bird's multi-disciplinary approach makes it a popular choice for French tech user companies and international providers. Present on major digital transformation projects, the department is well versed in providing advice in relation to outsourcing services, systems integration, cloud computing solutions and artificial intelligence.

    Legal 500 EMEA 2021, France: IT & Internet, Tier 1

  • Bird & Bird LLP's strength lies in its wide-ranging network…the group is particularly active in the technology and communication, retail and consumer as well finance and services areas and advises on business process outsourcing with a specific focus on digital business models that use cloud computing, big data and internet of things.

    Legal 500 EMEA 2021, Germany: IT & Outsourcing, Tier 1

News & Events

  1. 2411-2021

    Reforms to the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (Cth) passed

    Organisations across multiple sectors need to start preparing for changes to Australian cybersecurity regulations contained in the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (Cth).

  2. 2910-2021

    General FAQ of the BSI on the obligations of the companies in the "special public interest" according to the IT Security Act 2.0

    Which companies are affected and what measures do they have to take now?

  3. 1210-2021

    New telecom regulatory framework: the French Government specifies the obligations of operators and OTTs

    A Decree published on 2 October 2021 marks a new step in the transposition of the European Electronic Communications Code in France. The text specifies the new obligations of operators in terms of notification of ...

  1. 1511-2021

    Bird & Bird ATMD continues to be featured in The Straits Times Singapore’s Best Law Firms 2022 List

    We are delighted that Bird & Bird ATMD has been ranked, for the second consecutive year, in The Straits Times Singapore’s Best Law Firms 2022 and are one of the top recommended firms in Singapore by clients and peers ...

  2. 2710-2021

    Bird & Bird partners with SunLaw for the launch of their UK presence in London

    International law firm Bird & Bird today announces its partnership with SunLaw for the launch of their UK presence in London.

  3. 0107-2021

    Bird & Bird’s Czech Corporate / M&A team has once again advised KB SmartSolution, s.r.o., a subsidiary of Komerční banka, a.s. (member of Société Générale Group) focused on investment projects in financial services

    KB SmartSolutions, s.r.o. decided to increase its share in upvest s.r.o. to 31.06% after almost a year-long successful partnership with upvest s.r.o., a Czech fintech start-up provider of an investment crowdfunding ...

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