Next Generation Partners

Rising Stars

IT and telecoms in Scotland

Brodies LLP

With an impressive client roster that includes Scottish and international blue-chip tech corporations and public sector clients, the multidisciplinary IT and IP team at Brodies LLP handles the full spectrum of IT and telecoms work, including innovative and novel technologies. Assisting clients in the tech space with private equity-backed transactions constitutes a particular area of expertise. Grant Campbell and Martin Sloan jointly lead the team and handle data protection alongside non-contentious technology and outsourcing matters. Iain Rutherford is the key contact for contentious matters, routinely handling high-profile IT and outsourcing disputes.

Practice head(s):

Grant Campbell; Martin Sloan


Other key lawyers:

Iain Rutherford; Alison Bryce; Ally Burr


Testimonials

‘The Brodies team is very proactive, understands our business well and ensures we’re well briefed on potential impacting regulations and changes in our industry. With a dedicated team and the ability to draw in experts from across the business, we feel well supported.’

‘Martin Sloan is our main contact; he demonstrates a very strong knowledge of our specific business, industry and challenges. He’s tackled all work with a thorough and detailed approach and keeps strong engagement to relevant stakeholders in our business.’

‘Leaders in the area of eSignature.’

‘Martin Sloan: A ‘go-to’ person from an eSignature perspective. Martin has advised us on the use of eSignature and has thus justifiably earned deservedly a reputation as a subject matter expert in the world of eSignature.’

‘Excellent sector and industry knowledge and insight. Team acts as an extension of our in-house legal team, enhancing capability and capacity.’

Key clients

CapGemini


CGI


Borderlink Broadband/Go Fibre


Accel-KKR


ResDiary


Scottish Water


Scotrail Trains Limited


DC Thomson


WNS


Shetland Telecom


Work highlights


  • Advising the fibre network operator Borderlink Broadband/GoFibre on its successful Project Gigabit bids to enable thousands of hard-to-reach homes and businesses to access gigabit-capable broadband in Teeside and Northumberland.
  • Advising global tech-focussed PE firm Accel-KKR on the acquisition of Singletrack Systems Limited, a capital markets client engagement and data analytics business.
  • Advising leading restaurant reservations management platform ResDiary on the launch of DishCult Rewards, its new customer loyalty scheme.

Burness Paull LLP

Burness Paull LLP's cross-departmental IT and technology practice receives instructions on the full spectrum of technology-related contracting, transactional and contentious matters from an impressive roster of blue-chip domestic and international corporations alongside public sector clients, including energy providers. Its expertise extends into the fintech space, which constitutes a key area of focus for the group. This is not least due to the expertise of practice head Callum Sinclair in this area; he is particularly active for clients in the financial, public and utilities sectors. David Goodbrand takes point on data privacy matters and is recommended for his expertise in digital transformation, outsourcing and cloud transactions. The team strengthened its expertise in media-related IT projects with the arrival of Fraser Mackinven in March 2023; he was previously working in-house.

Practice head(s):

Callum Sinclair


Other key lawyers:

David Goodbrand; Fraser Mackinven; Murray Cree


Key clients

Sony Playstation


Bolt


Access Group


Cazoo


ScottishPower


Cairn / Capricorn Energy


Snappy Shopper


Hymans Robertson


Edinburgh Fringe


Scottish Futures Trust


Work highlights


  • Advising ScottishPower UK plc on its telecommunications services agreement, assisting the client during the entire lifecycle of the project, from contractual advice in the procurement stage and managing the incumbent (Vodafone) to negotiating the agreement with the chosen bidder, BT.
  • Advising Arnold Clark on a transformational EV infrastructure deal.
  • Advising Calnex Solutions plc on a number of its key IT and commercial agreements, helping to facilitate continued rapid rate of growth and strong profitability.

CMS

CMS' IT and telecoms practice is routinely instructed to assist with high-value and complex IT projects, leveraging the firm's multidisciplinary capabilities to act for public and private sector clients on significant transactions, projects and procurement contracts. In particular, the team is known for its financial services sector expertise and counts several large banks, financial institutions and fintech players among its clients. Practice head Alan Nelson's caseload covers a wide spectrum of IT and outsourcing matters, including procurements and IT services arrangements. Duncan Turner leads the Edinburgh team and is noted for his commercial contracts and data protection capabilities. Senior associate Martin Beveridge handles software licensing, ICT infrastructure and commercial contracts. Also in the core team is of counsel Douglas Mathie.

Practice head(s):

Alan Nelson


Other key lawyers:

Duncan Turner; Douglas Mathie; Martin Beveridge


Testimonials

‘Excellent, responsive team with strength in depth across multiple disciplines.’

‘Flexibility, knowledge and customer focus of the team have enabled CMS to make a highly-valued contribution to our work. Standouts are Alan Nelson, Martin Beveridge and Douglas Mathie.’

‘CMS’ understanding of our needs, and commitment to providing us with a responsive and cost-effective service is a real differentiating factor, specific standouts being Alan Nelson, Martin Beveridge and Douglas Mathie.’

Key clients

National Services Scotland (NHS)


Sainsbury’s Bank


Phoenix Group


ISIO Group


Scottish Water


Unified Financial Limited trading as OneBanx


Atomos Investments Limited


Northern Ireland Water


B&CE Holdings Limited


Ventient Energy Limited


Work highlights


  • Advised the central procurement body for NHS Scotland on the ‘Future of SWAN’ procurement project for the Scottish Wide Area Network, a technology solution to connect more than 6,000 public sector sites in Scotland.
  • Advised Atomos Investments Limited on the implementation of a master services agreement with a software platform service provider in order to support the financial services solutions Atomos provides to its clients.
  • Advised Northern Ireland Water, the sole provider of water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland, on the public procurement of a replacement outsourced billing software solution and services to operate that billing software on a long-term basis.

DLA Piper

DLA Piper's IT practice acts for domestic and international clients in the financial services, media and entertainment, consumer goods and public sector spaces, handling major IT projects and commercial matters. The group advises on procurement, outsourcing agreements and cloud computing agreements. The Edinburgh-based John McKinlay heads up the Scottish and UK-wide IT and IP practice and is the key contact for complex contractual and transactional work. The core team also includes senior associate Catriona Melton, who has extensive experience advising on data protection and regulatory compliance, as well as Linzi Penman, who acts primarily for clients in the financial services and retail sectors; she made partner in April 2023.

Practice head(s):

John McKinlay


Other key lawyers:

Catriona Melton; Linzi Penman


Key clients

Pearson International


Copperleaf


Seatfrog


Menzies Aviation


Fidelity International


Heineken UK


Merlin Entertainments


Innovation Group


Virgin Money


Work highlights


  • Advising Merlin Entertainment on the purchase of a Procure to Pay IT solution for use across all parks in Europe.
  • Advised Merlin Entertainments on a global framework with Immotion VR for the provision of virtual reality rides and other products.
  • Advising Seatfrog on the negotiation of terms for the provision of its services to several key train operating companies in the UK, including Cross Country, First Transpennine Express and Avanti.

Pinsent Masons LLP

With particular strength in the financial services, technology, education and energy sectors, the TMT practice at Pinsent Masons LLP fields a deep and experienced bench of practitioners operating between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Chris Martin leads the overall team and is noted for his energy and education sector expertise. The highly rated Yvonne Dunn leads the team’s ‘brilliant’ financial services and fintech sub-group and advises blue-chip financial institutions and corporations on strategic outsourcing and IT transformation projects. Kathryn Wynn handles data protection and information security issues for financial services clients, while David Woods takes point on contentious matters with a specialism in high-profile TMT disputes. Matthew Godfrey-Faussett routinely provides annuity IT and commercial contract support, and associate Madeleine Barratt assists with strategic data protection and IT contract work.

Practice head(s):

Chris Martin


Other key lawyers:

Kathryn Wynn; Yvonne Dunn; Madeleine Barratt; David Woods; Matthew Godfrey-Faussett


Testimonials

‘The capabilities and expertise across the team are excellent. We work with Pinsent Masons in the tech and financial services sectors. The range of professionals and ability to bring in the right experts at the right time is exceptional. It’s a diverse mix of professionals and individuals, who help drive the right culture and tone of engagement.’

‘The senior leadership has a strong mixture of strategic and operational experience, and as a result input is always practical and proportionate. They are always one step ahead, offering relevant strategic insights with a strong ability to anticipate issues that may have an impact.’

‘Strong and innovative practice. High quality and innovative approach to getting top advice in a cost-effective manner.’

Key clients

Lloyds Bank plc


Tesco Bank plc


sticklr


Lowell Financial Ltd.


Aldermore Bank PLC


Calmac Ferries / David MacBrayne


University of Edinburgh


Jisc


Pomvom UK Limited


Costain


Smart Data Foundry


Roslin Institute


Jisc


Newbury Building Society


Codebase / Techscalers


Work highlights


  • Advising a consortium of water companies on Stream, a project designed to establish an open and shared data ecosystem for the UK water industry. This involves 11 of the 17 major water companies in the UK.
  • Advised Smart Data Foundry on its arrangements with its key stakeholder, the University of Edinburgh, and on the development of a suite of data sharing and data services customer contracts.
  • Advised a large energy utility supplier on its appointment of Bridewell as the supplier of a mission-critical Security Operations Centre (SOC) solution designed to identify, address and mitigate the impact of cyber and broader system threats.

Addleshaw Goddard

Led by David Anderson, Addleshaw Goddard’s IT and technology team acts for high-profile banks, technology companies and start-ups on a broad range of matters including infrastructure, data services, software and outsourcing projects. Anderson heads the team from Edinburgh and is experienced in transformational IT and technology projects, as well as transactional work; he is supported by Helena Brown, who is a key name for commercial and regulatory matters, and data protection issues, with a focus on the financial services, retail and sports sectors; and managing associate Sam Lawson. In Aberdeen, Ross McKenzie is another name for IT and data matters.

Practice head(s):

David Anderson


Other key lawyers:

Ross McKenzie; Helena Brown; Sam Lawson; Calum Fisher


Testimonials

‘Addleshaws were able to support us across a range of advice related to a new e-commerce business we were setting up. Their proposal for the work was thorough and informative and really showcased their experience in this sector.’

‘The advice provided throughout the matter was concise, clear and always provided in the timescales required.’

‘They have provided unique expertise to solve these unforeseen difficulties as they have arisen – very impressive.’

‘They offer a collaborative approach – they fully involve internal counsel and business stakeholders to ensure their understanding of the ask.’

‘They are pragmatic – I cannot recall working with a more pragmatic legal team, Helena Brown and her team really seek to understand the business, context of the instruction and deliver pragmatic advice.’

‘Helena Brown and her team provide business-friendly, easy to digest, advice. Helena’s presentation of her advice is unique in my experience.’

‘Helena Brown is an outstanding advisor. She “gets” business requirements. She understands that business stakeholders do not want the black letter law; rather, they want to understand the risks, likelihood of enforcement, and options for mitigation. He absolutely delivers on this requirement.’

Key clients

Tumelo


Trojan Energy


Primark


Admiral Pioneer


Par Equity


Phlo Technologies


Candidate ID


Gener8 Ads


Wedge Traffic


Work highlights


  • Acting for Global Fintech FNZ on its wealth technology platform contracts.
  • Acting for Primark on the launch of its Click & Collect offering.
  • Acting for Admiral Pioneer on its investment into Wagonex.

MacRoberts LLP

Benefitting from the team’s particular strength in the public procurement of IT services, Scottish public sector organisations, educational institutions and tech SMEs regularly instruct MacRoberts LLP to assist with high-value IT projects. This is not least due to the expertise of practice head David Gourlay in this space, who routinely advises public, private and third sector clients on IT procurement and outsourcing projects, while Valerie Armstrong-Surgenor is the key contact for data protection, software licensing and international data transfers. Euan Duncan provides frequent assistance with the drafting and negotiation of IT contracts. Melissa Hall is also recommended.

Practice head(s):

David Gourlay


Other key lawyers:

Euan Duncan; Valerie Armstrong-Surgenor; Melissa Hall


Testimonials

‘The team is highly competent and has a great client awareness. They have great international connections.’

‘Euan Duncan is an outstanding advisor with great knowledge of his practice areas and perfect commercial awareness, which is why the advice is always very well tailored for the client’s business.’

‘Valerie Armstrong-Surgenor and her team have an in-depth knowledge of data protection, emerging technology and accompanying legal issues. They have taken the time to understand our business needs, and their advice is always balanced allowing us to see both sides of an argument and associated risks. They are always willing to put in additional effort to meet tight deadlines.’

Key clients

Scottish Water Business Stream


Scottish Building Society


Aperta Ltd


Vascutek Limited, trading as Terumo Aortic


Barrier Networks Limited


Speech Graphics Limited


Advokatfirman MORE Evander KB


Hydrogen Vehicle Systems Limited


Greenpeace Nordic


Work highlights


  • Advising Scottish Water Business Stream on a transformation programme involving a managed services agreement with CGI. The contract is for the appointment of CGI to act as a system integrator to replace the client’s existing billing system and integrate the new billing system into the client’s existing estate infrastructure.
  • Advised Scottish Building Society on the Azure contractual terms and third party terms for the provision of professional services, which enabled migration to Azure and AVD.
  • Advising Aperta on its software licensing and maintenance framework agreements along with negotiating various escrow agreements with NCC; the team also provided data protection and cybersecurity advice.

Dentons

Dentons‘ IT and telecoms team leverages the firm’s UK-wide capabilities to advise on a broad spectrum of IT agreements and projects, including outsourcing, tech licensing and emerging technologies. Ross Nicol left the team in 2023 and subsequently joined Addleshaw Goddard. Former practice head Alison Bryce left the firm in August 2023, while Steph Innes joined in September 2023 as partner in Glasgow to lead the practice following a period as head of group legal at Aggreko.

Practice head(s):

Steph Innes


Key clients

Sainsbury’s Supermarkets


Avis Budget Group


Marks and Spencer plc


MUFG Securities EMEA plc


National Theatre of Scotland


Ascensos Limited


Aggreko Limited


Bank of Tokyo


Argos


Work highlights


  • Advising MUFG Securities and Bank of Tokyo, a leading Japanese financial services institution, in the negotiation and drafting of a its agreements with major financial data providers and cloud service providers.
  • Advising Sainsbury’s Supermarkets on its IT procurement of payment services, the outsourcing of its data centre services and its payment orchestration services.
  • Advising M&S extensively on business-critical IT projects.

Harper Macleod LLP

Harper Macleod LLP's technology practice is noted for its expertise in public sector IT procurement and contracts work, and acts for a diverse range of public and third sector clients on the full range of related matters. Tom Thomas, who specialises in high-value cybersecurity and technology contract work for public and private entities, leads the team from Glasgow. In Edinburgh, accredited IP specialist Scott Kerr advises clients in the consumer goods and life sciences sectors on outsourcing and regulatory issues, while Jamie Watt, dual-accredited in IP and cybersecurity, is the key contact for disputes concerning patents in the tech sector.

Practice head(s):

Tom Thomas


Other key lawyers:

Scott Kerr; Jamie Watt


Testimonials

‘Great knowledge of technology and IP.’

‘They have taken time to get to know our business and seem genuinely interested in what we do. They have supported us at events and help raise our profile.’

Key clients

The Langholm Initiative


Historic Environment Scotland


Registers of Scotland


Webhelp


Genius Software Solutions Ltd


Oh Polly Ltd


Enduro Sports Organisation Limited


Blackwood Homes and Care


Glasgow City Council


Creative Scotland


Kingdom Technologies Ltd


Work highlights


  • Advising Kingdom Technologies on its initial seed investment, including various associated matters.
  • Advising Langholm on IP, technology and general commercial contract issues relating to the Civtech Challenge to develop a technology solution that helps land managers make better informed decisions on the best use of their land for carbon capture and storage.
  • Advising Shift Group Limited on a contract with IKEA, under which Shift uses its technology platform to allow customers of IKEA to book a ‘collect near you’ slot where the customer can have the IKEA purchase delivered to a locker operated on a time basis.

Thorntons Law LLP

Counting Scottish and international software companies, IT service providers and universities among its clients, the IT practice at Thorntons Law LLP advises on data protection, cybersecurity, IT contracts and sector-specific projects. Team head Liam McMonagle is dual qualified in Scots and English law and splits his time between Glasgow and Edinburgh; he assists public and private sector clients with outsourcing issues alongside technology and services agreements.

Practice head(s):

Liam McMonagle


Testimonials

‘Strong team, delivering good practical advice within timescales.’

‘Liam McMonagle consistently delivers high-quality, practical advice, often against tight timescales.’

Key clients

ThinkAnalytics Limited


Postcode Lottery Limited


Abertay University


brightsolid Online Technology Limited


NC Tech Limited


Ionburst Limited


James Hutton Institute


Work highlights


  • Advised ThinkAnalytics on key collaborations and partnerships with global content providers, including the BBC, Tata Sky and Liberty Global.
  • Advised NC Tech on a number of projects, including a significant outsourcing of manufacturing activities to allow vertical integration of solution distribution.
  • Advised the University of Abertay on its procurement of an online programme management solution to allow delivery of its educational programmes in an online environment in the UK and internationally.