Software & SaaS

Unparalleled experience advising buyers, developers and providers of software products and SaaS services

Buffeted by the rolling waves of tech innovation, it’s easy to forget that IP rights in computer software underpin a huge amount of the global tech economy.

On the sell-side, we have decades of experience advising software and tech, cloud, data centre and telecoms services provider clients across the full range of software legal issues: direct customer contracts, distribution arrangements, IP, competition law and regulatory issues. On the buy-side, from open-source to low-code/no-code, we advise clients on the range of software and services procurement, contractual, regulatory and compliance issues.

What We Do

With deep sector expertise advising on Software & SaaS issues, we advise on the following areas:

On premise and SaaS software licensing

Distribution and partner channel agreements
Professional services & implementation contracts
Open-source compliance projects
Strategic software acquisitions and disposals

Our Experience

Here are some examples of our Software & SaaS work:

EMEA legal advisors to a UK-based ‘unicorn’ fintech SaaS vendor, on software licensing issues, direct customer contracts and distribution arrangements

EMEA advisors to a Europe-listed software house on various global software products

Acting for 10 of the top 50 UK law firms on various contracts for core on premise and in cloud software systems

A Fortune 500 financial institution on strategic long-term licensing agreement for trading technology

Open-source software compliance projects and advice on policy and governance for international airline IT company

Insight

We publish for our clients and contacts blogs, vlogs and white papers, and hold occasional events and webinars about developments in Tech Law.

Our insight is widely recognised in the market. Who’s Who Legal have named us one of their eight Tech Law though leaders each year since 2017. Click through to our insights page or an article below.

Regulatory & Governance

SMCR Enforcement Actions

What are ‘reasonable steps’ in the context of the SMCR? Tom Hine explains using two recent cases.

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LawTech

LawTech and Cloud Contracts

What should law firms keep in mind to get the best from their Cloud investment? Richard Kemp takes a look.

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Regulatory & Governance

WEBINAR: Getting Ready for DORA

Time & Date: 09:00-10:00am, Wednesday, 15 May 2024Register here. DORA – the EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act – comes into force …

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What our clients say about us

“SITA is the IT provider for the air transport industry. Today, SITA’s solutions drive operational efficiencies at more than 1,000 airports while delivering the promise of the connected aircraft to more than 400 customers on 18,000 aircraft globally. Data is central to SITA’s business, and SITA’s communications network connects every corner of the globe and bridges 60% of the air transport community’s data exchange. Kemp IT Law’s experience and thoughtful advice on all things data are really helpful in leveraging SITA’s unique position to further grow and develop SITA’s data operations.”

“As a top 40 UK law firm, digital transformation is central to Trowers & Hamlins, and Kemp IT Law have provided first class advice and support to the Firm on a number of our key projects.”

“At Shakespeare Martineau we’re constantly investing in the digital transformation of our operations and business. Kemp IT Law specialises in projects for law firms, and we have been working with them on a number of key projects for the firm. We’ve been impressed with their specific experience in law firm IT regulation and contracting – they know the points and what’s market practice and their practical, can do approach has been of real help to us.”

“Supporting the business on our digital transformation is central to us at Foxtons, and it’s been valuable for us to be able to call on Deirdre’s and Richard’s practical and helpful advice on our digital transformation journey.”