IT and communications

RPC's Technology practice encompasses both contentious and non-contentious IT and communications work, ranging from the documentation of new technology solutions to substantial outsourcing deals and the full range of dispute resolution including high-profile, reported cases. Our clients include some of the UK's best-known brands and we are recognised for our IT expertise by the leading independent legal directories.

Selected directory listings

• "Very professional and intent on delivering solutions to their clients" - Chambers UK 2013
• "'Sensible, commercially minded and solutions driven’" - The Legal 500, 2012 edition
• "The thing you get with the lawyers at this firm is real commercial understanding, the implications behind their advice for our business. This really adds value to it and goes above and beyond what you get with most other lawyers" - Chambers UK 2012
• "Commitment to quality and for going well beyond the call of duty" - The Legal 500, 2011 edition
• "Punch[es] above its weight and has some big-name clients" - Chambers UK 2011

Examples of relevant work

Non-contentious

• Advising Tesco Stores Ltd on its highly innovative and strategically critical £100m+ Next Generation Network Project. The project will streamline and consolidate Tesco's global telecommunications services under a major outsourcing arrangement and will bring together all of its existing communications infrastructure (over 1,800 sites and 4,000 people in 16 countries). We worked closely with Tesco throughout the contract process in a project involving our specialist technology and outsourcing teams
• Drafting the underlying agreements on HMV's new interactive consumer services, including its social networking site, its digital download service and its electronic gift card scheme
• Advising Sports World Group on a Merchants Programme Agreement for the sale of consumer electronics, sporting goods and other products via www.amazon.co.uk
• Advising Associated Northcliffe Digital Limited on numerous online/digital of acquisitions, including Primelocation.com and Simplyswitch url
• Acting for the Lloyd's Market Association on the development (from the tender process through to negotiation of the contract) of an insurance market wordings repository and a market-wide electronic claims file solution
• Advising Daily Mail and General Trust plc on a substantial IT outsourcing contract for the supply and implementation of bespoke billing receipt and billing systems in relation to its newspaper advertising
• Advising the Swedish based telecommunications services provider Teligent on a range of service and outsourcing agreements
• Advising on telecommunications and support services in the UK and America to an international toy manufacturer

Contentious

• Acting for one of the world's leading retail IT consultancies, in defending a potential multi-party claim by a household name retail business valued at over £100m for alleged breach of contract/negligence and fiduciary duties arising from the scoping and installation of an SAP based IT system
• Royal & Sun Alliance Plc v Motivano Ltd - obtaining mandatory injunction requiring reinstatement of web server and subsequent High Court trial
• Acting for Google in relation to online defamation issues
• Acting for an established UK-based software and hardware supplier and developer against one of the world's leading IT companies in respect of a claim for breach of a suite of IT goods and services contracts and related patent issues
• Advising National Association of Schoolmasters Union and Women Teachers on its dispute with the provider of its relationship management software and the associated failure of the supplier to implement the software
• Acting for one of the UK's leading IT services companies in defending a multi-party claim by a household name business valued at $240m for alleged breach of contract/negligence and fiduciary duties arising from the scoping and installation of a SAP based CRM system
• Acting for a software supplier against one of the UK's leading mobile phone operators on a breach of contract claim relating to the supply of mobile phone software

For more information please contact Jeremy Drew (jeremy.drew@rpc.co.uk).