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IT and telecoms

With ‘excellent knowledge’, Boyes Turner’s recent highlights include advising Cambio Healthcare on its software licensing to a NHS trust, and advising Guardian Media Group on online advertisements. Mark Blunden is ‘extremely commercial and professional’ and ‘knows the wider software landscape thoroughly’. Bill Gornall-King is recommended.

DMH Stallard LLP advised TriSystems on its software development with QBE and its new cloud computing service. It continues to assist the Federation Against Software Theft (FAST) and Croydon Council. Frank Jennings is a ‘clear thinker’, and Tim Ashdown in London is also recommended.

David Tighe and Chris Shelley now lead the IT practice at Manches LLP, following Jonathan Oddy’s departure to Veale Wasbrough Vizards in August 2010. ‘Responsive and commercial’ senior associate Rustam Roy has also left recently, for Pitmans LLP.

Osborne Clarke delivers a ‘very good service’ and advises Xyratex regarding its open-source software. Russell Bowyer is advising new client Kerridge Commercial Systems in software licensing and development matters relating to its MBO. Mark Webber is ‘excellent’.

At Shoosmiths, Sebastian Price has experience in software licensing and development, IT outsourcing and IT systems acquisition. The team, which also includes Nick Fenner, advised Thomas Cook Group on its IT infrastructure programme, and assisted CompuCredit Corporation in a licensing case. Other clients include Ageas and Game Group.

Senior solicitor Sheliah Mackie is the key contact at Blake Lapthorn’s Southampton office. She can call upon the support of the London office to offer clients contentious and non-contentious IT advice. Clients include the University of Reading and Southampton Solent University. Geoffrey Sturgess retired from the firm in 2010.

Bond Pearce LLPeffortlessly’ provides advice to ‘exact specifications’, with Julian Hamblin at the helm of the IT practice in Southampton. The team recently advised Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance on an outsourcing matter, while other clients include Kingfisher and New Look.

Morgan Cole advises health bodies, including the London Strategic Health Authority, on IT issues. It is also advising a local school on the redevelopment of a software platform. Alison Patten-Hall and Bruce Potter are recommended.

Olswang provides ‘really practical and commercial ideas’. Microsoft and Yell remain key clients, and the team added Indian-owned consulting company Mastek to its roster in 2010. The ‘knowledgeable and practical’ Iain Stansfield is ‘reliable in a crisis’, and leads the ‘knowledgeable’ team.

asb law LLP is noted for its ‘comprehensive support and competitive pricing’, and advises clients including CBS Butler and the National Offender Management Services. The ‘unfailingly excellentLyndsey Ratcliffe delivers ‘a high level of specialist advice’. Andrew Clinton is ‘very commercially minded’ and Richard Mumford is an ‘excellent strategist’.

Barlow Robbins LLP handles non-contentious IT work, and the arrival of former Mitsubishi in-house lawyer Brett Farrell in 2010 brings added expertise. The group advised Kalahari in the renegotiation of a licensing contract.

Clarke Willmott LLP is advising the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants on the outsourcing of IT functions. Paul Cox handles IT disputes, and associate Chidem Aliss is recommended. The team is appreciated for its ‘incredibly fast response times’.

John Warchus leads the IT team at Clarkslegal LLP, which recently advised new client Satyam Computer Services on an IT project dispute. It also assists Carillion and GTL Europe in IT matters.

Clyde & Co’s team reports an increase in IT work for insurance-sector clients; it is advising Admin Re on technology and outsourcing projects, and Unum on support and development for its rating engine. Mark Williamson leads the team, and newly promoted partner Alan Meneghetti has experience in IT outsourcing.

Liz Appleyard and Moira Myers handle technology matters at EMW, and advise on licensing agreements. The team won Redkite Financial Markets as a client in 2010, and continues to act for Signifo and Rightmove Group.

The ‘practical, commercial and pragmatic’ team at Stevens & Bolton LLP advised Monitise on software licensing and development agreements related to a joint venture. Beverley Whittakerfocuses on the important issues and gives practical advice’, and David Wilkinson is recommended for contentious IT work.

Known for its technology and outsourcing expertise, Taylor Walton LLP advised Fujifilm UK on an IT supply agreement and is currently advising the client on a further software licensing matter. ‘Clearly very knowledgeable’, Sam De Silva is ‘commercially aware’ and acts for Domestic & General, Telephonetics, and British Friendly. Mike Pettit is recommended.


Intellectual property

Sarah Hadland, former head of IP at Pitmans LLP, joined Boyes Turner in 2010, bringing contentious IP experience and clients including Marson Fabrics and Redsense Medical. The team advises retail, technology and pharmaceutical industry clients. Mark Blunden and Bill Gornall-King are recommended along with consultant Isabel Davies, who joined from CMS Cameron McKenna LLP in 2011 and is noted for patent and trade mark expertise.

Commercially aware and very responsive’, DMH Stallard LLP delivers ‘succinct advice’. It advises the Friday Media Group, Office Shoes and Alpargatas (UK and Europe) on all IP matters. London-based Tim Ashdown leads the ‘very professional outfit’, and Frank Jennings is ‘commercially minded’.

Good in negotiations’, the five-partner IP team at Manches LLP was boosted in 2010 with the arrival of associate Rachael Parman from Shoosmiths, who brought several retail and fashion clients, including Jimmy Choo, IKEA, Oakley and TK Maxx. The team advises science, technology and publishing sector clients, and recently acted for Oxford Biodynamics in a licensing deal with an Australian healthcare provider. Chris Shelley gives ‘business-orientated advice’.

Shoosmiths advises on IP infringement, patents, trademarks and branding. The ‘very goodGary Assim has retail industry expertise, and led the team in advising H&M in a patent case. Clients include Amazon, Shoe Zone, McDonald’s and Samsung Europe. Nick Fenner provides ‘authoritative advice’. Associate Rachael Parman joined Manches LLP in 2010.

The former Oxford-based Rouse Legal team created new specialist IP firm Sipara in November 2010. Rated for its ‘sound knowledge’, the team has significant international experience and an impresive client roster, featuring B&Q, Lloyds Pharmacy and Oxfam. Hugh Tebay has a ‘can-do approach’, and Rebecca Kaye is recommended. Robert Furneaux is a ‘strategic thinker’.

The ‘responsive and proactiveBlake Lapthorn advised French telecommunications corporation Alcatel-Lucent on its UK trade mark strategy. Akzo Nobel is also a client. Jill Bainbridge has ‘up-to-date knowledge’ and experience in IP rights and domain name disputes.

The ‘commercial, responsive and practical’ team at Clarke Willmott LLP delivers ‘a great service to rival any London firm’, with ‘second-to-none’ knowledge. The ‘superb’ Paul Cox ‘displays endless legal knowledge of IP law’. Estelle Dimelor joined from Spratt Endicott in 2010, and has contentious IP experience. Trade mark manager Philippa Olden is recommended.

Morgan Cole has ‘very good knowledge of the legal field’. It is known for its healthcare sector expertise, and counts Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust, London SHA (National Cancer Action Team) and the Department of Health as clients. The team also advised Raymond Blanc and Blanc Restaurants in 2010. Reading-based Alison Patten-Hall and Gayle Curry in Oxford are recommended.

Responsive and thorough’, Olswang advises on trade mark and copyright matters. Iain Stansfield has expertise in IP commercial contracts and design and brand protection. Clients include Direct Wines, Net-a-Porter, Reader’s Digest, TMO Renewables and Yell.

Osborne Clarke advises clean tech and renewable energy sector clients, and in 2010 was appointed to the panel of the Carbon Trust. The team, led by Russell Bowyer, advised Liquavista on IP collaboration and supply agreements. It also advises First Water, Ubiquisys, Zotefoams, Novusmodus and Intersurgical.

asb law LLP delivers ‘outstanding service’ to a ‘high degree of expertise and professionalism’, and has notable travel industry expertise. Lyndsey Ratcliffe advised Stock Depositors in a design right infringement dispute. Associate Debbie Venn is ‘exceptional’.

The ‘approachable and good-value’ team at Barlow Robbins LLP features Nick Phillips, who has a ‘flexible, strategic approach’. It advises Maximuscle on trade mark issues, and also acts for Global Personals on brand protection and Ransat Ceramics on infringement matters.

EMW provides ‘sound and practical advice’ on trade marks, and design and patent work. In 2010, the team successfully defended Vax in a registered design infringement claim brought by Dyson. The ‘clever, concise, and quick’ Mark Finn is recommended for disputes, and Liz Appleyard handles non-contentious work.

Expert in the field’, palmer biggs legal is a specialist IP boutique with ‘in-depth knowledge’. It advises Evisu, JD Sports and Canon on UK civil anti-counterfeiting work, and also advises Visa on trade mark matters and domain names. Steve Palmer has ‘professionalism and an engaging personality’, and Dawn Osborne is also recommended.

The ‘simply excellent’ Mark O’Shea at Rawlison Butler LLP is ‘a cut above’ and has ‘thorough understanding and insight’. Clients include Zetes, Swarovski, Amadeus Marketing and Suzuki.

Stevens & Bolton LLP’s ‘unbelievably commercial’ team is representing Future Publishing in a High Court dispute against Edge Interactive Media and Edge Games. Gallaher and Rackspace US are also clients. David Wilkinson gives ‘strong and sensible advice’ in disputes, and Beverley Whittaker advises on the non-contentious side.


Media and entertainment

Manches LLP retains its top-tier position for media work, and reports an increase in television and film-related matters, often advising US-based clients. Cathleen Blackburn handles non-contentious publishing and media matters, and Steven Maier leads on the contentious side. Clients include the Tolkien Estate and Oxford University Press.

With a core focus in publishing, Blake Lapthorn’s team includes Elaine Heywood, who has experience handling privacy, libel litigation and defamation, and reputation management. Joss Saunders has expertise in rights concerning e-books. Taylor & Francis/Informa remains a key client.

With a ‘pragmatic approach’, Boyes Turner’s team is led by Mark Blunden, who advises on new media publishing and online communities. Blunden recently assisted Trader Media Group on the commission and implementation of new mobile technologies, including the Auto Trader application. The team also acts for several clients in the Middle East.

With expertise in the music industry, Nick Kounoupias at DMH Stallard LLP has an excellent reputation for copyright infringement and anti-piracy cases. The group advised BSkyB in a breach of copyright case in the High Court against TVCatchUP. Clients include PRS for Music and Rock Choir.

Matthew Arnold & Baldwin LLP’s three-partner team advises the RTL Group and Elstree Film Studios. Mark Weston has experience in online gaming, film, TV and viral advertising issues.

Shoosmiths’ media expertise stems from its strength in IT matters. The team also handles work for several publishing industry clients. Nick Fenner advises on media rights, and has experience in advertising, marketing and privacy issues. Clients include the Open University and Seven Publishing.


Sport

Clarke Willmott LLP’s standout sports practice is the ‘first port of call’ for many clients. The team has expertise across corporate finance, M&A, commercial rights, IP and regulatory work, and was appointed to the panel of UK Sport in 2010. It also advised Newmarket, Goodwood and others in the creation of the British Champions Series of Horseracing. Trevor Watkins provides ‘very good service’, and Bilal Mirza is also recommended. Southampton FC, Middlesex CCC and Venatrack are also clients.

With expertise spanning target and country sports including hunting, riding, shooting and fishing, Knights is rated as ‘excellent’. Michael McNally has personal injury and professional negligence experience, and Matthew Knight is also recommended

Paris Smith LLP acts for several sports clubs in Hampshire. Planning expert Janet May advised Hampshire Cricket Club regarding a new golf club, hotel and stand at the Rose Bowl Stadium. Portsmouth FC and Southampton FC are also clients.

At SA Law LLP, Peter Goodman advises in motor sport matters, and also represents several sports individuals. Robert Ryall leads in motor sports litigation. Lotus and Jaguar are key clients.


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