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Cyber

Our commitment to the cyber technology sector is second to none, with close links to key organisations including CyNam, GCHQ and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). From high growth start-ups to large plcs, as a full-service firm, we have the capability to fully support the range of legal needs of cyber technology businesses.

Key contact

Nicola McNeely

Head of Technology Sector

Working with entrepreneurial and innovative people in Wales and across the UK, especially in advanced manufacturing and technology businesses, is a pleasure, and I focus on working closely with clients to solve their problems and really understand how their businesses work. That understanding enables me to give succinct and pragmatic advice.

Kerry Beynon

Partner

Building lasting relationships with clients beyond single transactions, I’m dedicated to understanding their businesses and tackling their legal challenges head-on to make a tangible impact. With a in-house legal counsel background  for a well-known energy company, I’ve honed my skills to work closely with clients as an integral part of their team.

Supporting your cyber business

Intellectual Property (IP) is a key area for cyber businesses. Our advice often includes fully identifying all IP assets and putting in place steps to protect them wherever possible. We also work with clients looking to licence their IP and draft contracts to support their commercial goals.

We understand the importance of retaining key individuals within the business and advise clients on staff incentivisation structures, including share option schemes and employee ownership trusts. And if the time comes, we support clients to exit the business, putting in place a strategy ahead of time to make the process as smooth as possible.

Taking a cyber business to the next stage can be expensive process. Our lawyers support clients looking to take on new investments including any implications under the National Security and Investment Act.

In the heart of the cyber community

We work with cyber businesses of all sizes and stages of development. Our clients include many cyber technology SMEs, and we are currently advising a key provider of government incubation programmes.

We’re truly rooted in the sector, regularly working from dedicated tech co-working spaces including Hub 8 in Cheltenham, Tramshed Tech in Cardiff and Plexal (Stratford) in London. Our expertise and commitment to cyber businesses is well known and resulted in us being asked to provide ongoing legal training to each cohort of the National Cyber Security Centre’s prestigious “NCSC for Start Ups” programme.

Our engagement in this community means we are now instructed by many cyber technology businesses, given our deep experience of the issues they face and the expertise we have to support them.

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Keep yourself updated

We produce a quarterly newsletter, Tech Law, which covers the latest news and developments impacting the technology sector.

Each issue features articles from our specialist technology advisors covering a range of issues including cryptocurrencyintellectual property, cyber law, disputes and international impacts.

Read our previous editions

Legal updates and thought leadership

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Hear what our clients say about us

Nicola has a lot of knowledge in the crypto market.

Chambers and Partners UK Guide 2024

Nicola works in an un-rivalled way, from my personal experience. She is patient, tenacious, 100% committed, always there when you need her (often at the drop of a hat) and excels in her field. I’d thoroughly recommend her!

Nick Proctor CEO of Amber Energy

The team quickly and effectively: 1) Identified the level of my experience with IP legalities 2) Understood the particular applications of the technology under development and therefore potential associated commercial risks 3) Communicated the situation and options clearly, demonstrating deep prior relevant experience of similar experiences.

Legal 500 2024 – Intellectual Property

Inger is pragmatic in her approach and works hard to simplify and ease the process. She is a pleasure to work with.

Technology Angel Investor – Inger Anson

Inger has provided excellent support and strong advice with clear explanations. Her commercial understanding is second to none and her negotiation skills are of the highest standard.

Cleantech Investment Manager – Inger Anson

I cannot recommend Nicola McNeely highly enough. I have never engaged a more professional, polished, knowledgeable and commercially astute lawyer in my career.

Legal 500 – Nicola McNeely

We have worked with Clare for many years, during which time she has supported us through a wide range of challenges, large and small, always providing a frank, pragmatic, balanced, detailed and friendly approach, helping us to understand the key legal issues at play and strategies to get the best outcomes.

Client Delivery of IT services

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