Rob Sumroy > Slaughter and May > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Slaughter and May
ONE BUNHILL ROW
LONDON
EC1Y 8YY
England

Living Wage

Rob Sumroy photo

Work Department

Commercial Contracts
Cyber
Data Privacy
Emerging Tech
Fintech
Information Technology
Intellectual Property
Strategic Sourcing
Sport
Tech and Digital
Tech Transactions

Position

Partner; Rob is a partner in our IP/Tech group and Head of our Technology and Strategic Sourcing practices. He is global co-head of the Data Privacy Hub and co-leads both our cross stream Cyber Advisory unit and our Emerging Technology team.

He advises on all areas of technology, digital and data, including around emerging technologies such as blockchain, AI/ML and IoT, as well as privacy, cyber and the regulation of data across a broad range of sectors.  He regularly helps clients understand and mitigate risk, whether linked to a changing regulatory compliance framework, adapting to evolving technological advancement, implementation of material transformation programmes or the increasing complexity around the management of data.

His IP practice involves advising on the creation, protection and exploitation of IP rights in a diverse range of sectors, including media, financial services, technology and sport. Rob also has significant experience in handling the IP, technology and data protection aspects of mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and other major corporate transactions.

As head of the Strategic Sourcing practice, Rob is often called on by clients to advise on risks, structuring options and commercial impacts of sourcing and procurement arrangements.  In this role, Rob was part of our 4-partner team leading our independent review of the problems faced by TSB with its major IT platform transformation, the report on which was published in 2019.

Career

Joined firm 1994. Partner since 2003.

Memberships

Society of Computers and Law; National Outsourcing Association (NOA) – his team won Best Practice Award for outstanding advisor of 2007. He is a member of the PLC, IP IT and Communications Law Editorial Board and the Outsource Magazine Editorial Board, and also sits on the National Outsourcing Associations Cloud Computing Steering Committee.

Lawyer Rankings

London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design

Noted for their ‘no-stone-unturned approach’, Slaughter and May is entrusted by a consortium of clients on multi-jurisdictional disputes, copyright mandates, and emerging technologies, to name a few. ‘Commercially savvy’ practice head David Ives handles a variety of litigation and commercial agreements for an extensive range of clients, while Duncan Blaikie principally focuses on commercial IP arrangements, drawing upon his background as a doctor to advise clients operating within the life sciences sector. Rob Sumroy is another name to note.

London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms

(Hall of Fame)

Rob SumroySlaughter and May

Slaughter and May’s broad caseload encompasses digital infrastructure projects, IT outsourcing, regulatory matters, and technology disputes. Practice head Rob Sumroy ‘gives radically clear pragmatic advice’ and is well-versed in commercial licensing, sourcing transactions, and technology-related investments. David Ives is often engaged in IT service agreements and software developments, while Duncan Blaikie covers telecommunications procurement. Laura Houston is noted for her strength in technology assets, and Rebecca Cousin is well-informed in the data aspects of corporate transactions. Ian Ranson is another key team member.

London > Industry focus > TMT

(Hall of Fame)

Rob SumroySlaughter and May

Working with major British companies and blue-chip tech multinationals alike, Slaughter and May regularly advises on a host of major corporate, commercial, and regulatory mandates, including big-ticket cross-border transactions, sourcings and procurements, product launches, and licensing strategies. The group is also experienced in disputes. The team is jointly led by three partners: telecoms head Victoria MacDuff; tech head Rob Sumroy; and Paul Dickson, who heads up the media desk.