Next Generation Partners

IT and telecoms in East Anglia

Mills & Reeve LLP

Mills & Reeve LLP is ‘a trusted legal adviser, providing seamless and valuable support on a range of IT matters with first-class client service‘. The firm’s offices in Cambridge and Norwich are part of a firmwide practice that handles central government IT and healthcare IT projects, as well as advising established technology businesses on IT matters. Among its clients are Redgate Software and HM Land Registry. Kevin Calder leads the firm-wide technology group, in which ‘always calm and measured‘ IT and data protection specialist Peter Wainman and IT licensing partner Alasdair Poore play key roles. Principal associate Sophie Burton-Jones is closely involved in government and health technology projects, including  work for the States of Guernsey and Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. Principal associate Katy Carson is ‘superb, providing provides clear and pragmatic advice, and is robust in negotiations‘. All named lawyers are based in Cambridge.

Practice head(s):

Kevin Calder; Peter Wainman

Other key lawyers:

Sophie Burton-Jones; James Edmonds; Lisa Cham; Katy Carson

Testimonials

‘Peter Wainman is really friendly and approachable and, therefore, client-friendly. Always calm and measured and finds a solution to the problem presented. A wealth of experience which he applies in a commercial and risk based way.’

‘James Edmonds and Lisa Cham re two junior lawyers who perform above their PQE. Each have benefitted from training with Peter Wainman and provide drafting and comments which are considered and well drafted, plus take into consideration commercial realities. I am more than happy to put them in front of my internal clients.’

‘The team at M&R are personable, they are able to provide advice on different subjects and are on hand to talk through our enquiries.’

‘Our main contact is Sophie Burton-Jones, Sophie understands our business models and from that is able to give us valuable advice. M&R are able to put us in touch with advisors around the global or specialists in specific fields, this has enabled us to support all our customers and understand specific business risks.’

‘M&R continue to be our trusted legal advisers, providing seamless and valuable support on a range of IT matters, of varying complexity and value, and with first class client service.

‘Kevin Calder provides fantastic partner support on all our commercial work and offers valuable insights and input on matters as and when necessary.

‘Katy Carson is superb, and definitely someone you want on your team! She assists with a wide portfolio of work, identifies issues, provides clear and pragmatic advice, is robust in negotiations with the other side, very efficient and a delight to work with!’

Key clients

Cognizant Worldwide

Redgate Software

Cambridge Mechatronics

Siemens Healthcare

Formpipe

Martime and Coastguard Agency

HM Land Registry

Government of Guernsey

Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture

Ministry of Defence

Work highlights

  • Advised the Government of Guernsey on its high-profile procurement of an integrated electronic patient record system for every citizen on Guernsey.
  • Advising the Ministry of Defence on establishing its £1.5 billion Digital and IT Professional Services framework.
  • Advising Siemens Healthcare on the negotiation of major customer contracts.

Birketts LLP

Birketts LLP has 'great industry knowledge and goes the extra mile to look beneath the surface and understand clients' requirements'. 'They don't waste time and focus on the solution, and it is a pleasure to work with them', remarks one client. Quentin Golder and Andrew Priest in Cambridge, along with Mark Gipson in Ipswich and Paul Palik in Norwich, are the lead partners in the commercial and technology group. They act for a diverse range of clients, among them The Cambridge Building Society and Cresset Biomolecular Discovery Limited, handling a broad range of corporate, IT and commercial matters. Golder assisted neuroscience company Cambridge Cognition with technology licensing matters and collaborative agreements.

Practice head(s):

Quentin Golder; Mark Gipson; Andrew Priest; Paul Palik

Testimonials

‘Birketts have provided us with great industry knowledge in this specialised area and advised us on some complex telecoms matters, the service provided has been first class.’

‘The individuals involved go the extra mile to look beneath the surface and understand our requirements, the document preparation and finished product are excellent.’

‘The team is involved and hands on, all the way to the end. They don’t waste time and focus on the solution. Pleasure to work with them.’

‘I like that I can work with the people that have the knowledge and experience, no time is wasted.’

Key clients

Cambridge Cognition Limited

Coyote Group Ltd

Scionics Computer Innovations GmbH

The Cambridge Building Society

Apolitical Group Limited

Ista Energy Solutions Limited

Cresset Biomolecular Discovery Limited

Cambridge Cognition Limited

Coyote Group Ltd

Scionics Computer Innovations GmbH

The Cambridge Building Society

Apolitical Group Limited

Ista Energy Solutions Limited

Cresset Biomolecular Discovery Limited

Work highlights

  • Acted on the drafting and negotiation of numerous licensing, agents, SaaS arrangements, and collaborative agreements for Cambridge Cognition Ltd.
  • Acted for Scionics, a provider of software and SaaS arrangements in the biological science research community, in relation to a software as a service arrangement with Monash University (Australia).

Ashtons Legal

Ashtons Legal acts for a broad range of established companies operating nationally and internationally, as well as innovative and entrepreneurial high-growth start-ups. The firm is known for its expertise in the automotive and motorsport industry, advising clients such as Cosworth, and for its work for companies providing IT services in the public and private healthcare sectors. It also works for Acts start-ups in emerging technology areas such as machine learning and near-field communications. James Tarling in Norwich leads the practice. Norwich-based associate David Sloman advised AI services provider Ubisend on contractual matters relating to its new software as a service platform.

Practice head(s):

James Tarling

Other key lawyers:

David Sloman

Key clients

Ubisend

ServiceTick

Medical Management Systems

Cosworth Group

Digital Fuel Marketing

Thyngs

Sentronics

Brightchecker

PiXL Club

Work highlights

  • Advising Cosworth on drivetrain technology and engine design, manufacture and supply contracts with major supercar manufacturers.
  • Advised ServiceTick on its software licences and support arrangements to insurers and international banks.
  • Advising Medical Management Systems on its licences to international private healthcare providers.

HCR Hewitsons

HCR Hewitsons is ‘a great firm to work with, reliable and with strong expertise in IT‘. Following the merger of Harrison Clark Rickerbys and established local firm Hewitsons, the Cambridge office is a key focus for IT work, which sits within the commercial practice, which is best known for complex technology transactions in areas such as SaaS, cloud infrastructure, application management and software development. Head of commercial law Nathan Evans is ‘extremely dependable, proactive and  dedicated‘. He frequently provides commercial law advice to IT and cloud services provider SAP, assisting it with one of the largest IT services transactions in France in 2021, and advising on licensing arrangements with various Tier 1 banks.

Practice head(s):

Nathan Evans (Commercial)

Testimonials

‘Extensive scope of legal and advisory services, including specialist areas like technology.’

‘Nathan Evans is an outstanding legal professional.’

‘HCR is a great firm to work with. They are reliable, have strong expertise in IT and in the field of finance and provide great value services! They definitely form part of our (extended) team!’

‘Nathan Evans is extremely dependable and one of our most trusted advisors. He talks the talk and walks the talk. He has invaluable experience in IT and the finance sector and always provides pragmatic advice. He is our go-to person for all deals in the financial sector and for complex deals.’

‘Nathan Evans is proactive and dedicated which means we know that we are in a safe pair of hands. Moreover, he has a very good knowledge of our industry and managed to build affinity not only with our legal team but also with our business. He is considered as part of the (extended) team!’

Key clients

SAP (UK) Limited

SAP Fioneer Limited

VAKT Global Limited

Trade Information Network Limited

Ingenta PLC

Marmalade Game Studio

sa.global

Work highlights

  • The firm holds a position on SAP (UK) Limited’s global panel of commercial law advisors, providing strategic deal support (on-prem, cloud, consultancy, and professional services) to SAP in both the UK and across the North EMEA.
  • SAP Fioneer emerged from SAP as a market leader in enterprise application software for financial services businesses including global banks and insurers. The firm provides Fioneer with deal support and regulatory advice in connection with outsourcing in the financial services sector.
  • Advises VAKT, a post-trade record platform powered by blockchain, on a range of commercial matters including strategic partnerships, data licensing, platform licensing, and transaction support.