The commercial and technology team at A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP is well-equipped to handle technology-related litigations which are high value, sensitive, and cross jurisdictional in nature. The team is jointly led by Brendan Fox and Mark Thompson. Fox heads the litigation services, while Thompson leads the non-contentious side, where he assists clients in drafting IT technical agreements, including end user licence agreements for both the UK and EEA markets. Also on the contentious side, Ciaran O’Shiel is well versed in advising on defamation, privacy, and data protection matters. Senior associate Keith Dunn often provides support in drafting and negotiating contracts.

The Arthur Cox Belfast technology and life sciences team is a market leader in providing corporate advice to technology companies. The team is led by William Curry, who is well trusted by a number of high-profile clients in the public and private sectors, notably including the Department of Finance Land and Property Services. Curry is supported by Lynsey Mallon, a specialist in commercial and corporate matters who is well-versed in counselling clients concerning commercial contracts and transactions. Richard Armstrong also lends strength to the practice on procurement and acquisitions.

Carson McDowell’s technology sector team is adept at providing IT providers with a wide range of advice. Dawn McKnight leads the practice. Notably, McKnight was recently instructed to complete a procurement for the Education Authority, which included drafting the contract and advising on the terms of a gain share mechanism between the Education Authority and Fujitsu. Declan Magee has around thirty years of litigation experience; he provides support on the contentious aspects of some of the practice’s most sensitive matters. At the associate level, Helen Cosgrove specialises in contractual telecommunications disputes, while James Milliken provides ‘meticulous attention to detail and insightful strategies around master service agreements.’

The Tughans technology team assists a number of clients in the technology, healthcare, and robotics clients. Department co-lead Adrian O’Connell provides ‘well laid out, and easy to understand’ transactional advice, while managing partner Patrick Brown heads the disputes side of the practice. Other key contacts include Andrew Kirke, who often leads matters concerning licensing terms for healthcare and software companies and Paul Eastwood, who provides strategic and commercial advice, such as advising upon and negotiating technology supply agreements. On the associate level, Aoife Murray provides support on a variety of the practice’s matters, including assisting clients with updating and preparing the terms for their IT services.

The in-demand Cleaver Fulton Rankin IT and telecoms team often advises large telecommunications companies, including BT, Virgin Media O2, and Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited, on telecoms sites and real estate issues. Joe Marley leads the team on the practice’s most significant telecommunications real estate matters. Aaron Moore, hailed by clients as having ‘a wealth of knowledge with the Lands Tribunal and County Court’ advises IT clients with commercial disputes. Meanwhile, Shane Conlan provides support on both transactional and contentious matters.

The ‘extremely pragmatic’ information technologies team at Lewis Silkin are well experienced in supporting clients during contract negotiations. Rory Campbell is well experienced in advising on the contractual terms of software and services supply arrangements for IT providers. Mary Traynor has a ‘very practical approach’ and provides commercial advice on various issues, including matters of GDPR obligations in the UK and EU.

The information technology team at Millar McCall Wylie LLP has a strong presence in the media sector, often advising clients on drafting contracts, licensing, and terms and conditions. Damian McParland leads the practice with strong experience in media and entertainment related corporate and M&A matters. Abbie Long regularly supports IT and private technology clients on various agreements for licensing of rights and exploitation arrangements.