

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 & insights

News: 14 JANUARY 2021
Advising American Tower on its USD9.4 billion acquisition of Telxius Towers from Telefónica
A cross-border team of corporate and real estate experts at Allen & Overy has advised global communications infrastructure leader American Tower Corporation (American Tower) on its agreed acquisition…
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Publications: 29 DECEMBER 2020
On 16 December 2020, the European Commission launched the EU’s new Cybersecurity Strategy for the Digital Decade, seeking to bolster Europe’s cyber resilience and step up the EU’s leadership in…
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Publications: 24 NOVEMBER 2020
In the third in our series of webinars, members of Allen & Overy’s Global Employment team discussed the significant issues and challenges that employers need to prioritise in relation to managing and…
Read moreDigital transformation

Digital transformation, built on the IT cornerstones of cloud, mobile, social and big data is affecting all industries.
Our integrated, multidisciplinary teams are available to help clients smooth the path for digital projects.