Commercial & Technology

Hill Hofstetter’s team of commercial lawyers provides pragmatic advice to businesses on a wide variety of commercial issues. Our work frequently has an international dimension.

We focus on getting to the heart of the key commercial and technical issues for the client and on producing contracts and solutions that, as well as protecting our clients’ legal interests, advance their commercial objectives and support their practical working relationships with third parties.

We have extensive expertise and experience in assisting clients with the drafting and negotiation of a broad range of commercial contracts tailored to the client’s individual needs, including supply, outsourcing, joint venture, franchise, agency, distribution and service level agreements.

The team has particular expertise in legal issues relating to information technology and the internet. We advise on a wide range of issues across this field, including software development, licensing and distribution, website conditions, website development and hosting agreements and privacy policies. We advise on related compliance and regulatory issues, such as data protection and privacy laws and e-commerce and distance selling regulations.

We understand and advise on registered and unregistered intellectual property issues generally including IP licences and assignments and R&D projects.

Our lawyers will advise businesses on the most effective structures to achieve their aims, such as whether an agency or distribution arrangement is the most appropriate.

We often review and draft terms and conditions of sale or purchase of goods or services and advise on effective sales and order processes to ensure the incorporation of standard terms into the contract. We provide training to sales and purchase teams on best practices to be followed during the contracting process.

We also advise on financial services legislation, acting for clients in the financial services sector such as financial advisers and insurance brokers.

Where disputes arise in relation to commercial and IT arrangements we work closely with our Commercial Disputes team which provides expert advice, for example where intellectual property rights need to be defended or agency compensation or indemnity claims are made.

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