Since the early days of the telecom boom, we have advised on several key transactions relating to the telecommunications segment (including satellite systems, fixed line networks, mobile telephony, wireless communication services, long distance and local telecommunication services, land and undersea fibre optic cable, and radio trunking and broadcasting) and the broadband / communication sector (including voice, data, video managed network and web hosting services, security technology for use by web sites and other computer networks, and internet security issues) and also broadcasting sector (radio and television, including cable and DTH). Our clients include all stakeholders in the field of telecom, including domestic and multinational telecom operators, telecom infrastructure providers, private equity investors, banks and institutional investors, e-commerce players and other telecom users.

This wide industry exposure provides us an insight into the expectations and interest of the other parties to a transaction and assists us in bringing value to a negotiation. We also advise on regulatory matters and frequently appear before various regulatory authorities in litigious and non-litigious matters; we assist clients in licensing issues and disputes relating to licenses. We advise clients on their proposed schemes and on new regulations.

Over the years we have drafted and negotiated numerous forms of licence agreements, including development agreements, enterprise / open source licence agreements, value added reseller agreements, OEM Agreements, equipment leases, distribution agreements, data and content acquisition agreements and licenses, network services agreements, invention and other licensing agreements. We are familiar with the current issues affecting the industry including issues relating to source code escrow, damage and risk allocation, indemnification, limits on liability, access to future technologies and termination triggers. We are therefore able to comment on the standard or best practices in industry.

Lawyers from the telecommunications practice collaborate with members of the Firm’s other practice areas in order to provide clients with high quality services, resulting in an efficient realisation of client objectives.