TMT – Telecommunication, Media & Technology
Innovative companies need innovative lawyers, and few companies are more innovative than TMT businesses. The emergence of the internet as the dominant communication infrastructure, the entry of new non-traditional market entrants and new mobile technologies has created new business models and complexity.
Accelerating investment into mobile and internet technology, connecting 28 billion devices through the 'internet of things' and the development of digital solutions in banking, healthcare and transportation are causing TMT businesses to re-evaluate strategy and partnerships. Convergence of media and telecoms – content on any device – will continue. On the technology side, there will be significant investment in the simplification and virtualization of IT architectures and carriers, with vendors and suppliers combining research in IT networks. In light of this rapid development, you need to stay ahead of the competition while ensuring that you comply with all legal requirements.
Planning international expansion within the sector means legal advice that combines local and multijurisdictional expertise. With us, you benefit from a TMT team that works across CEE and which has been pushing the boundaries of law in the region since the beginning of sector liberalization and the advent of technology law. You can rely on our background in leading landmark transactions, financings and privatizations throughout CEE and our long experience in successfully advising on intellectual property, technology and data compliance, telecom and media regulatory, internet law and market opening.
IT outsourcing
Whether you are a business planning to outsource its IT operations or a vendor providing such services, you will find us a competent partner in drafting and reviewing IT outsourcing agreements. We can advise you not only on all aspects of data protection and data privacy and help you file the necessary notifications and applications, we can also provide you with comprehensive advice covering IP, employment or regulatory issues that might arise in connection with outsourcing projects.
Cloud computing
With the rise of IaaS, PaaS and SaaS models and the emergence of third parties between businesses and their information, new legal challenges have arisen as well. Apart from newly enacted legislation, questions like the location of stored data, the risk of data loss, "lock-in" effects or information theft have gained new significance. You can rely on our long experience in advising both cloud service providers and customers on relevant agreements, notifying authorities and addressing regulatory issues in all our jurisdictions.
E-commerce
Retail has long been one of our key sectors. As e-commerce has become standard, we have assisted many of our long-time clients in setting up online stores. This means you benefit from our comprehensive legal advice in connection with websites and mobile applications (apps); from drafting and reviewing online terms and conditions to advising on data protection requirements to representing you in domain name disputes. We ensure your compliance with e-commerce law, distant selling law, consumer protection law and competition law to help your business safely keep up with the newest trends.
Online entertainment and media
The emergence of new media and social networking has drastically changed consumer behaviour and has brought about new business models which require a new and integrated legal approach. Our clients include media corporations, social network providers, internet agencies, providers of streaming services and developers or providers of gaming services. Based on our experience of working on ground-breaking cases in the region, we guide you through all regulatory issues such as licensing, gambling and advertising regulations as well as related tax matters. Our IP experts help you protect your copyrights and related rights and represent you, if necessary, in infringement cases.
Data protection / Information Security
There is hardly another area where data protection is more prevalent than in the TMT sector. With more innovations and more virtual break-ins come new, stricter regulations; which means staying up to date with your privacy policies and data security is more important than ever. We help you do that while respecting your business needs and with an eye toward your continued success. We can also advise you on the compliance of your products and transactions, assist in filing notifications to authorities and help to set up or review your internal procedures such as "Bring Your Own Device" policies, (cross-border) data transfers or Incident Response Plans for data breaches.
Telecommunication
If you operate in the telecommunication sector, you benefit from our long experience in the development of telecommunication markets across the CEE/SEE region, including advising clients on cases in connection with privatisation, market consolidation and telecom infrastructure, as well as representing them in disputes before local and international authorities up to the European Court of Justice. We can advise you on the entire spectrum of regulations affecting your industry. You also benefit from our region-wide coverage if you are planning a cross-border transaction; we can advise you on all aspects of M&A and related matters such as merger control, tax, financing, IP or employment in all the countries in which we operate.
