Laura Houston > Slaughter and May > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Slaughter and May Offices
ONE BUNHILL ROW
LONDON
EC1Y 8YY
England
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Laura Houston
Work Department
Commercial Contracts
Strategic Sourcing
Information Technology
Intellectual Property
Data Privacy
Emerging Tech
Cyber
Tech Transactions
Position
Partner; Laura advises clients on the full spectrum of IP, tech and commercial contracts matters.
Laura’s IP practice covers both advisory and transactional work. She has extensive experience in advising clients on the protection and exploitation of IP rights across a broad range of sectors and industries, alongside portfolio management matters. In addition, Laura frequently acts on IP licensing arrangements, as well as the IP and technology aspects of mergers, acquisitions, disposals, investments and joint ventures.
On the tech side, Laura advises on all areas of traditional and emerging technologies, including blockchain, AI and Internet of Things, both in an advisory capacity and as part of wider transactions. Laura also has significant experience in advising on the transitional servicing aspects of corporate transactions, in addition to a wide range of other commercial arrangements underpinning such transactions.
Laura is also an active participant in our Data Privacy hub, advising clients on data protection and privacy issues in a wide range of contexts.
Career
Joined firm in 2011. Partner since 2021.
Lawyer Rankings
London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
Counting major technology companies among its key roster of clients, Slaughter and May stands out for its expertise in high-end transactions, strategic sourcings and procurements, regulatory issues, licensing strategies, infrastructure projects and product launches, in addition to IT-related disputes. Rob Sumroy
leads the team and assists clients with their response to emerging disruptive technologies, fintech, cyber and e-commerce, while David Ives works across both the public and private sectors on matters concerning business process sourcing. Duncan Blaikie advises on commercial contracts, while Laura Houston focuses on the acquisition and divestment of technology assets. Victoria MacDuff, who is well-versed in cybersecurity and telecoms matters, is another key contact in the group.
London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design
Noted for its ‘business orientated’ mindset, Slaughter and May acts for both established technology companies, as well as tech-based disruptors, on IP issues and disputes, often in relation to cutting edge issues. David Ives spearheads the practice, with experience in dispute resolution and commercial IP arrangements, as well as IP enforcement and protection strategy. Duncan Blaikie’s expertise in the life sciences sector bolsters the practice, while Rob Sumroy’s strength lies in the digital, technology and innovation sectors. Laura Houston is another name to note in the practice.
Lawyer Rankings
- IT and telecoms London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
- Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Finance > Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans
- Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: premium
- Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers
- Dispute resolution > Competition litigation
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Employment > Employee share schemes
- Corporate and commercial > EU and competition
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: M&A and acquisition financing
- Insurance > Insurance: corporate and regulatory
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Upper Mid-Market And Premium Deals, £750m+
- Employment > Pensions (non-contentious)
- Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates)
- Dispute resolution > Tax litigation and investigations
Firm Rankings
- Corporate and commercial > Commercial contracts
- Real estate > Commercial property: development
- Finance > Corporate restructuring & insolvency
- Finance > Debt capital markets
- Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – mid-large cap
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: contentious
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Fintech
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: Project finance and development
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Oil and gas
- Employment > Pensions: dispute resolution
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables)
- Industry focus > TMT
- Real estate > Commercial property: investment
- Real estate > Construction: non-contentious
- Finance > Derivatives and structured products
- Employment > Employers
- Real estate > Environment
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: civil
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
- Industry focus > Life sciences and healthcare
- Investment fund formation and management > Listed funds
- Finance > Securitisation
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport
- Finance > Acquisition finance
- Insurance > Insurance and reinsurance litigation
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design
- Real estate > Property finance
- Industry focus > Retail and consumer
- Real estate > Planning
- Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions – high-value deals (£250m+)