Data, IP & Technology Disputes

Much of the economy is underpinned and enhanced by data, content, technology and brands. The creation and use of these enabling assets creates opportunity but can also carry significant risks.

Our data, IP and technology disputes lawyers

Our team of data, IP and technology disputes lawyers have a proven track record in guiding clients to a successful resolution when issues arise. Our experience includes dealing with the following:

Data security incidents and consequent investigations and litigation;
Issues arising out of the use of Generative AI;
Breach of confidence and trade secrets claims;
Database rights infringement;
Trade mark and passing off claims;
Copyright infringement;
Design right disputes;
Patent infringement; and
Technology and outsourcing disputes.

Drawing on long standing, trusted relationships that have been developed with lawyers at other law firms around the world, we can coordinate projects for you globally, co-counsel with those lawyers or refer you directly to them.

We are also able to source assistance for our clients from cyber and IT security experts when dealing with data security breaches as well as from PR experts experienced in handling the communications issues around major incidents.

They have an excellent breadth of knowledge across many different sectors and therefore have experience in dealing with matters that are both legally complex, but also complicated at a business level, involving lots of competing concerns and issues from various stakeholders

Chambers & Partners, 2023

Our expertise in data, IP & technology disputes

The team has acted for a wide range of clients across many sectors. Here are some examples of the cases the team has worked.

Data disputes:

We have acted in a range of supply chain data breaches impacting the retail, leisure and technology sectors, including the Shopify data breach and the more recent Capita and Zellis ransomware attacks.
We represented a client in a dispute about the use of data derived from the gig economy.
We advised a client in the online travel sector about the use of data derived from airline websites.
We acted for a client in the hotel sector providing accommodation to asylum seekers in a dispute about the processing of the asylum seekers' data.
Our client was innocently caught up in the Cambridge Analytica/Facebook scandal. We helped our client navigate through an investigation and audit by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and requests for information from Facebook’s lawyers.

Intellectual property disputes:

Our client, a UK based fashion company, had established a global brand. A large US based retailer was seeking to use that brand in its business as it expanded from America into Europe. We acted alongside the client’s US based advisers to arrive at a strategy which led to a successful conclusion of the dispute for our client, involving a multi-million dollar settlement in its favour.
We acted for the owners of the Ryder Cup golf brand in obtaining an interim injunction to prevent the use of its brand by a former licensee following the termination of a Licence Agreement.
We acted for a health food sector client in stopping the distribution of its branded products in China through the grey market.

Technology disputes:

We represented a supplier of software and systems in a dispute with its client, an Investment Management company, over a failed IT outsourcing project to install a compliance management system. Our client obtained a settlement sum representing the majority of its unpaid invoices following the alleged wrongful termination of the project by its client.
We acted for a sports sector client in a dispute with a software developer over the failure to deliver a functioning system designed to track the performance of participants in the sport.
We advised a fashion sector client in a dispute with its technology platform provider when the provider denied our client access to its platform for alleged breaches of its terms and conditions.