Commercial & technology

We are known for our ability to get to grips with demanding and technically difficult disputes. Our team includes some of the leading experts in technology, life sciences and intellectual property disputes and we have worked on some of the largest cases in these areas.

We also have extensive experience in international disputes involving conflicts of law and jurisdiction, worldwide freezing orders, enforcement action and the monitoring and management of foreign proceedings.

We are experts in litigation, arbitration and mediation. However, our starting point is to explore the options to resolve a dispute before it escalates. We use advanced technology and reporting tools to assist our clients to get an early understanding of their position so that they can develop strategies to match their risk appetite and objectives.

Experience

Arbitration: acting in arbitrations under institutional rules, including LCIA, SCC, ICC and UNCITRAL rules, as well as ad hoc proceedings under the Arbitration Act 1996. Bristows’ arbitration practice is unique because as well as acting in a wide range of commercial arbitrations, we focus on disputes involving technical subject matter.

Confidentiality: responding urgently to situations arising from the loss of or misuse of confidential information. We advise how to preserve and protect confidential information and trade secrets. Our experience includes disputes arising from confidentiality in product designs, life sciences product ingredients, development plans, market strategy, pricing information, internal costs, customer lists and software source code.

Contracts relating to IP and licences: advising on the full range of life sciences and bio-technology contract disputes right across the pharma product life cycle, often with IP-rich elements. Many of the issues arise from licensing arrangements and their termination, research and collaboration agreements, licence fees and royalty rates, supply and manufacture contracts, quality/technical agreements and distribution agreements

IT projects & outsourcing: Advising on a broad range of IT disputes including "troubled projects", outsourcing disputes, excess use claims, database licensing, and breaches of service level agreements and contracts to supply IT equipment or services.

Product liability: We advise on all aspects of product liability, from pre-launch and product recall through to defending claims.

Views on matters
shaping technology

Latest articles

Bristows to sponsor and host the first OpenUK Awards

01.04.2020

Take-Two: Another step in the High Court’s battle against cheating in video games

10.03.2020

Bristows' Technology practice continues to grow with Alex Keenlyside hire

16.12.2019

What others say

The firm “always looks to provide solutions and alternate ways to achieve the right outcomes.”
Chambers and Partners Global 2020

“the firm’s “collaborative approach,” its “strong foundational knowledge of outsourcing” and the fact that it is “willing to embrace and incorporate new concepts” are key assets during international projects”.
Chambers and Partners Global 2020

The team has “great insight into the tech sector and deep knowledge of the industry.”
Chambers and Partners Global 2020

“Bristows always stand out in terms of clarity and prompt turnaround.”
Chambers and Partners Global 2020

A source is impressed by the firm’s ability to “cover the UK and EU” and at the same time “feed in to broader advice.”
Chambers and Partners Global 2020

“They are experienced in co-ordinating or handling matters across Europe, through their good network of law firms.”
Chambers and Partners Global 2020

“Clients particularly turn to the firm for its ability to lead cross-border technology projects across the EU”
Chambers and Partners Global 2020

“Comprehensive IT practice with powerful resources for major commercial transactions and complex litigation”
Chambers and Partners 2020

“The lawyers have a keen sense of the commercial aims of their clients and how to focus strategy so as to achieve those aims and they have an exceptional understanding of the commercial markets in which their clients operate”.
Legal 500 2020

Bristows “is more than a collection of lawyers; it is a real team working together – and for each other – for a common client-focused goal.”
Legal 500 2020

“The commercial and technology disputes team promoted Angela Fouracre, who ‘impresses with the high quality of her work’.”
Legal 500 2017

“Anna Cook is recommended for her handling of high-value IT disputes. Her client base includes multinational digital media companies and financial services infrastructure providers.”
Chambers and Partners 2019

“Overall, the Bristows’ commercial litigation team working on this claim have been excellent. They are consistently responsive and the quality of their legal services has been top-drawer.”
Chambers and Partners 2017

“It has particular industry sector expertise in IT, consumer products and life sciences, and has recently grown its practice in both disputes relating to the misuse of confidential information and the work it handles for financial services businesses. The team also regularly acts in cross-border Russian and CIS-related litigation and arbitration.”
Legal 500 2017

“Bristows LLP has a strong client following in the commercial contracts space, owing to its ‘high degree of partner-level engagement'”
Legal 500 2019

Recent rankings and awards

Media & entertainment: Gaming, social media & interactive content - Band 4
Chambers and Partners 2020

Commercial Litigation
Leaders League UK 2020

Key contact

Mark Brown