The broad team at Addleshaw Goddard acts for a lucrative client base which notably includes McDonald’s Restaurants Limited, ASDA Stores Limited, and Matalan Group Companies. Paul Bentham and the ‘astounding‘ Claire Edwards co-lead the practice following the retirement of James Whittaker in July 2023. Praised by clients for his ‘legendary technical ability‘, Bentham has longstanding experience in assisting both supplier and customer clients across the retail, consumer, and financial services sectors on cloud solutions. Edwards’ workload consists of global intra-group sharing agreements and international transfers. Phil McGough is ‘extremely talented‘ when it comes to advising on global licensing arrangements and IT processing outsourcing, and Nadine Waters is noted for achieving ‘exceptional outcomes‘ when acting opposite large telecoms providers and IT vendors.

The ‘talented‘ group at DLA Piper UK LLP maintains its strong focus on the public sector, handling a broad array of national tech projects. Leading the team from Liverpool, Sarah Bell is noted for her exceptional expertise in IT procurement, often assisting government departments. Manchester’s Lee Brierley has longstanding experience in smart ticketing projects; Naomi Ross routinely advises on IT procurement projects within the financial services and utility sectors; and David Booth, who was promoted to partner in May 2024, has vast knowledge of AI and technology contracts. In Liverpool, Peter Brook routinely assists with government clients with tower contracts and national IT programs, and Paddy Dwyer is adept at advising on the full range of business critical IT contracts.

With broad expertise spanning technology deployments and both software and hardware arrangements, the group at Fieldfisher acts for a diverse array of clients, which notably includes Liverpool Football Club, Pets at Home, and UK Biobank. The team is also noted for its handling of global data breaches and marketing related mandates. Sam Jardine heads the practice from Manchester alongside Rob Sheldon. Jardine is particularly adept at advising on outsourcing contracts and tech, and is noted for his strong focus on software agreements. Sheldon is particularly adept at advising on international projects, often assisting international data and tech clients.

Pinsent Masons LLP houses a broad team which advises on an array of private equity transactions within the tech space, digital transformations, and international data transfers. Notable clients include BUPA, Barclays Bank, and Tesco Stores Limited. The ‘excellent‘ Samantha Livesey heads the practice from Manchester, utilising her longstanding experience in IT and data to handle tech procurement and transition projects relating to on-line trading and digital platforms. Stephanie Lees is particularly adept at advising on data protection compliance, routinely assisting clients with the procession of personal data and subject access requests.

Brabners LLP’s team acts for a varied client base of SMEs, small private equity houses, and entrepreneurs with a range of corporate transactions within the IT and tech sectors. Working out of the Liverpool office, Colin Bell heads the group, routinely advising IT companies on commercial contracts and joint ventures. Dividing his time between Liverpool and Manchester, Richard Hough is an expert in commercial contracts and healthcare regulation, while Nik White is well-known for his commercial acumen and broad knowledge of tech and software games. Manchester’s Morgan Lewis often assists clients with the exploitation of IP rights and the development of blockchain tech.

The team at DAC Beachcroft LLP acts for a varied client list of technology suppliers, and healthcare and insurance entities. On the non-contentious side, practice co-head Chris Air exhibits broad knowledge spanning material outsourcing and software development projects, in addition to the data protection aspects of cloud projects; and on the contentious side, co-head Harald Loeffler frequently represents suppliers, customers, and public sector bodies in arbitrations and court proceedings. Phil Mitchell has expansive expertise in IT and cyber disputes relating to data breach responses.

Known for its standout focus on the telecoms sector, DWF acts for an array of notable clients, including BT PLC, T-Mobile USA, and the Home Office from its Manchester office. Telecoms real estate head Catherine Haslam is noted for her longstanding expertise in commercial landlord and tenant issues relating to telecoms mast sites. Promoted to partner in 2024, Thomas Armstrong leads the telecoms litigation team, and is well-versed in Electronic Communications Codes and real estate disputes. Co-head Frank Shephard is an expert in corporate issues, including M&A and joint ventures. Andrew Whalley left the firm in December 2023.

Praised by clients for its ‘expertise and commitment‘, the group at Pannone Corporate LLP handles a myriad of mandates, involving data processing agreements, and outsourcing projects. Additionally, the team is adept at advising on the IT and data aspects of corporate transactions, often assisting a diverse client roster of tech and application, and IT hardware providers. Practice head Amy Chandler exhibits vast and varied knowledge spanning IT outsourcing agreements, cloud computing, and data protection compliance. Andrew West is noted for his commercial expertise, often assisting cloud service providers, system developers, and resellers.

Led by David Gardner, the team at TLT is well-known for its distinctive focus on fintech and financial services related matters, in addition to its handling of public procurement mandates for public sector clients. Gardner often advises on digital transformation and outsourcing issues.

The team at Weightmans LLP handles a wide variety of issues involving the processing of sensitive data, and the procurement of managed network and IT services. Sean Crotty leads the team from Liverpool, acting for a diverse client list of public and private sector entities, including SMEs and local authorities. Manchester-based corporate law expert Sarah Walton handles transactional matters, with a strong emphasis on M&A and venture capital investments. Nicola Gonella divides her time between Manchester and Glasgow, and is known for her knowledge of outsourcing and contract management, and data protection.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP acts for a lucrative client base, which notably includes AstraZeneca and Hargreaves Lansdown. Practice head Tom Bridgford is noted for his broad knowledge of tech contracts within the financial services space. Richard Hill is a key name for major outsourcing related issues, technology transformations, and the procurement of cloud services. Shehan Kamal is well-versed in matters arising at the intersection between tech and financial services, often assisting with the negotiation of commercial agreements.

Acting for a diverse range of clients from the health, financial services, and telecoms sectors, Hill Dickinson LLP handles an array of IT related issues. Dividing his time between Manchester and Liverpool, co-head Mark Fitzgibbon is noted for his strong focus on IT procurement within the public sector. Co-head James Lonsdale has deep commercial knowledge, routinely assisting clients with hardware and software reseller agreements, and licensing deals concerning data usage. The group was bolstered by the arrival of Jodie Wootton in April 2023, who joined from DWF.

Known for its 'commercial acumen', the group at Mills & Reeve LLP has broad experience spanning international data transfers, software licensing, and procurement projects. The group is noted for its strong public sector focus. Praised by clients for his 'supreme work ethic', 'exceptional' practice head Paul Knight's primary areas of focus are software licensing and data security. Alasdair Dougan routinely assists both public and private sector clients with tech contracts and the procurement of IT solutions.

Carla Murray heads the Altrincham based practice at Myerson Solicitors, which is noted for its 'very attentive' approach when advising on data protection and processing, healthtech issues, and M&A within the tech space. Murray is well-versed in the full spectrum of tech contracts, often assisting clients with major software implementations within the fintech space. Richard Meehan is adept at advising on a broad array of issues concerning online fintech platforms, and IT and tech agreements concerning hardware and software solutions.

Praised by clients for its ‘superb in-depth knowledge‘, Shoosmiths LLP maintains its strong focus on the financial services and e-commerce sectors, notably acting for Stonegate and Deliveroo. Practice co-head Andrew Whalley joined the group from DWF in November 2023, contributing his vast knowledge of tech and telecoms disputes, and data breach claims. Co-head Luke Stubbs leads the firm’s fintech group, handling a broad range of issues concerning payment services, IT platforms, and data protection compliance.