Serve and protect
Every business can be defined by its relationships with its customers, suppliers and partners. In an environment where margins are being squeezed on all sides, certainty in terms of both cost and return becomes key. Tailoring services specifically for customers, suppliers and partners will go some way towards reducing risk in, and maximising return from, those relationships.
Adrian O’Connell is
“an excellent communicator who clearly understands our business needs very well”
(Chambers UK 2011)
Tughans impresses clients with its
“relaxed, professional attitude, business acumen and speedy responses”.
(Chambers)
This is where we can help. Our dedicated contracts and technology team provides commercially focused advice on all types of commercial and technology arrangements. Our clients tell us that they value our advice, both prior to and during negotiations, because it is practical and focused on their needs.
What we do
Clients depend on the knowledge and experience of our team in this fast paced sector. We regularly advise our strong technology client base in relation to their contracting requirements on matters including: the development of intellectual property assets by employees and contractors, and the ownership of those assets; the exploitation of those assets via licensing, outsourcing, software as a service, OEM, VAR and managed services arrangements; service level agreements; support and maintenance; and escrow.
We are commercially focused, and our aim is that, so far as possible, the legal considerations serve the commercial considerations of the deal.
In addition to working closely with in-house commercial and legal units, members of our team have worked on secondment with our technology clients. This enables a pragmatic understanding of our clients’ needs.
Our focus here is always on the value of our clients’ intellectual property assets. Our role is to advise on strategies for protecting, managing and, where necessary, enforcing our clients’ intellectual property rights. Here, we have experience of advising clients in relation to their trade mark portfolios and parallel imports.
In terms of the ownership and exploitation of developed intellectual property assets, we have wide experience of advising clients in relation to those which result from various structures, including: commercial and academic research; collaborative networks; joint ventures; and technology transfer.
The increasing levels of procurement litigation, taken together with the introduction of new legislation has meant that public and private bodies alike increasingly require specialist advice on the running of, or responding to, tender processes. Our work in this area includes: advising on the most appropriate procurement method and structure; reviewing and approving procurement documentation, including OJEU notices, pre-qualification questionnaires, invitations to tender and conditions of contract; and challenging, or defending, contract awards.
Our considerable work in this area brings our team into contact with clients across a broad range of sectors, including manufacturing, technology, telecoms, hotels, food and retail. The aim here is on a quality service that provides value for money.
Each deal will have its own risk profile. Our role is to work with our clients to ensure that risk is identified. Where it cannot be excluded or limited, such risk is to be mitigated or managed. The aim is, so far as possible, to avoid disputes arising later.
We advise our clients on a broad range of commercial agreements, including: agency, confidentiality, consultancy, distribution, franchising, general commercial, managed services, manufacturing, outsourcing and supply.
Businesses in every sector are increasingly facing a tide of regulation, whether specific to a sector or to the structure of its operations. Our team advises on a range of regulatory issues, from issues of data protection and freedom of information to betting and gaming advices.
Service
Expert and timely advice and assistance on a wide range of technology and contract arrangements, from strategic planning and negotiation of the contract, to deal implementation and contract management. The team is led by Adrian O’Connell.
As a recognised leader in the field of technology law and practice in Northern Ireland, Adrian regularly delivers seminars and publishes articles on topics of interest to the technology community.
Summary
Our comprehensive and dedicated team of solicitors, strong client base and focus on client retention combine to place us as the law firm of choice for many companies operating across a broad range of sectors both within Northern Ireland and beyond.