TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
DMH Stallard LLP’s travel team is recognised as a market leader and is regularly sought after by tour operators, travel agents, online travel providers, destination management companies, and industry suppliers. The team is well-equipped to advise on a wide range of commercial matters, with particular strength in package travel and ATOL regulations. The travel practice sits within the firm’s broader commercial department, led by Debbie Venn, a specialist in the travel sector. She brings significant expertise in logistics, cross-border agreements, agency relationships, distribution arrangements, and terms of sale. Rebecca Thornley-Gibson is also highly recommended, frequently acting as a trusted adviser to some of the travel industry’s largest companies and senior executives. Abigail Maino departed the firm for an in-house role in December 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
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Work Department
Commercial
Position
Partner
Career
Experienced and pragmatic commercial contracts specialist with particular expertise in technology, data, IP, travel, manufacturing and wine sectors and support to in-house counsel.
With more than 20 years' experience, Debbie has worked with global brands, household names and entrepreneurial businesses advising on trading arrangements, contracts, collaboration agreements, intellectual property rights protection and commercialisation, licensing and royalty agreements, IT contracts (software licences, support and maintenance, SaaS / Cloud, managed services and IT infrastructure contracts), online trading / website regulation, privacy and data protection issues (including UK GDPRs).
As an experienced commercial contracts specialist, Debbie has worked with manufacturing and distribution businesses, including logistics and international trade agreements, agency terms, distribution agreements and sales conditions. She is also an acknowledged expert in the travel sector, working with tour operators, travel agents, destination management companies and suppliers, advising on a wide range of matters including package travel and ATOL regulations, booking conditions and agency agreements. Debbie has also spoken at many ABTA events and contributed to travel and other publications.
Work highlights
- Advising a global engineering business on the protection of IP rights, confidentiality arrangements, data sharing and partnership agreements, IP and patent assignment/licensing.
- Acting for a leading provider of digital cameras, printers and services in respect of the sale of complex machinery, provision of online services and licensed software products, hardware and firmware, IP rights, GDPR compliance and framework contracts.
- Advising the estate of a well-known author on intellectual property issues, including IP rights (completing an IP audit), publishing contracts, merchandising contracts, archive arrangements for physical works, agency representation terms, together with ongoing support and IP ownership/licensing issues.
- Advising a process and payment platform provider on GDPR compliance, data processing agreements, IT security policies and retention processes, software licensing and services contracts; also on compliance with the Payment Surcharges Regulations.
- Advising a super-computing platform on the protection of its complex software engines for the creation of multiple processing activities and algorithm application in various sectors, including gaming, and on IP ownership of the software.
- Drafting booking terms and conditions and contracts for operating a luggage handling and storage service for an aviation services company and advising on the set up and operation of a remote airport service desk
- Advising an award-winning leisure business on trading arrangements including supplier contracts, terms with accommodation providers, contracts for the provision of children’s entertainment packages and booking conditions for school programmes.
- Advising a specialist travel package agency on Package Travel Regulations, bonding arrangements, ABTA membership, booking conditions, supplier contracts and Local Tour Operator Agreements, and ongoing advice on data protection compliance
- Working with some of the UK's most successful vineyards in matters such as third party growing arrangements, bottling, "white label" production, warehousing and distribution.
Languages
English
Content supplied by DMH Stallard LLP
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Debbie Venn is a brilliant technical lawyer with a deep-rooted understanding of the travel regulatory framework. Rebecca Thornley-Gibson is an astute employment lawyer who knows how to navigate the toughest of employment issues affecting the industry. Helen Mead is a fantastic corporate lawyer who has worked with many travel clients to give them sage advice when dealing with transactions and corporate issues.’ ‘Debbie Venn is very personable which, aside from technical astuteness, makes the experience easy. Her responses are always prompt, substantive, and friendly.’ ‘Rebecca Thornley-Gibson took time to get into detail on the work they were engaged for. She was quick to grasp our requirements and adapted according to our unique situations.’ ‘My Australian legal practice specialises in travel and tourism law, and I have referred several clients to DMH Stallard for advice on regulatory compliance relating to their UK operations. One such client is among Australia’s largest tourism experience operators, with substantial investments in tourism properties, attractions, and transport services. DMH Stallard — and Debbie Venn in particular — provided this client with valuable compliance advice regarding the UK Package Travel Regulations. DMH's approach is extremely collaborative, and their knowledge of the workings of the travel industry and associated legal considerations is expert.’
Key clients
- Specialised Travel Ltd Dante Active Ltd Hovertravel Ltd 15below Ltd Themis Advisory Ltd Martin Randall Travel Limited
Work highlights
Dante Active – acting for a specialist sports activity ad tour provider, dealing with matters relating to the sale of bespoke packages through schools, ensuring they have the right framework in place to trade, including legal documentation and advice on regulatory compliance.
Hovertravel – continuing to act as the outsourced legal function for a passenger hovercraft service business. Advising in relation to its contracts with suppliers, distributors and agents, as well as booking T&Cs and data protection, ensuring the business complies with applicable laws and regulations.
Themis Advisory – acting on a white-labelled basis for various clients of Themis (a specialist legal consultancy to the travel sector), mainly in relation to provision of IT services and data protection matters, including SaaS services to be operated by travel businesses and digital marketing services.