

Technology
The digital revolution affects all sectors.
The fusion of mechanical and digital innovation is producing a new generation of superior products and services. New business models. New technologies. New competitive constellations. New industries. The digital revolution is in full swing. Technological developments are touching every aspect of life and business and are presenting enterprises with a range of utterly new challenges. Offering support to our clients in the face of this revolution is a key mission for us. Our Technology market segment group develops and bundles technology skills and all the related specialist legal knowledge.
Digitalisation and technology throw up new legal questions and complexes. Our lawyers analyse and appraise the complex interplay between corporate strategy, IT and law, offering practical solutions.
Legal challenges for which we offer support:
Intellectual property
New communication standards relating to connectivity functions on products can lead to conflicts between producers and telecommunications companies due to industrial property rights, and such conflicts can even lead to legal actions for patent infringement. Another issue for producers is the development of innovative defensive patent strategies in order to ensure that external patents used in their products are secured in the long term. Moreover, in the past the brand portfolio was limited to existing fields of activity and will now have to be expanded in the face of digitalisation.
For many companies, large volumes of datasets and the evaluation thereof form a key element of their business, whereas no protection is available for individual data as such. New IP legislation is being introduced with the aim of clarifying the issue of big data, in particular relating to ownership questions in the case of corporate cooperations. The same applies in respect of AI and CRM issues.
Criminal law and administrative offences (compliance)
Risks & liability under civil law
Corporate law & M&A
Antitrust law
Employment law
Tax law
News and insights

News: 16 March 2023
Allen & Overy advises Ant Group on the largest ESG-linked loan conversion in Asia Pacific
Allen & Overy has advised Ant Group on the successful conversion of its USD6.5 billion syndicated loan facility (the “Facility”) into a syndicated sustainability-linked loan (“SLL”) format towards the…

Publications: 28 July 2022
Equity capital markets in 2022: Europe cools, the Middle East heats up. What next?
The equity capital markets have faced challenging conditions in H1 2022. European markets cooled, the Middle East boomed.

Publications: 20 January 2022
Kickoff of the UPC: UPC Protocol on Provisional Application now in force
On 19 January 2022, the Unified Patent Court (UPC) came to life as an international organisation. Now, the preparatory phase for the official start of the UPC system can begin.

Publications: 09 July 2021
German Federal Constitutional Court paves the way for the UPC
As an international treaty the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPCA) provides for the establishment of the Unified Patent Court (UPC). As a joint Court of the Contracting Member States, the UPC…
Digital maturity

Law is code. We speak both. Today, every company is a technology company. That includes us.
Fluent in tech, experts in law—Allen & Overy helps clients navigate the complex landscape of technology. Move beyond digital transformation to true digital maturity with a firm that’s backed by global experience and expertise.