Digitalisation

Lawyers at the cutting edge of digital transformation

The world is transforming faster than ever before. Across many sectors, traditional business models have either been or are being disrupted by digital innovation, paving the way for new opportunities and changing “the way that things are done.” 

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Make an enquiry Digital lawyers

Private investors are also seeking to capitalise on digital opportunities. Today, holding cryptocurrencies on a blockchain is becoming as commonplace as having cash in the bank. But digital transformation isn’t just about tech: there are legal implications to consider. These tend to be multi-faceted, cutting across compliance, data privacy, cyber security, employment, tax, antitrust, estate planning and other legal areas. And the rules can change quickly as the digital landscape evolves.

A team dedicated to everything digital

Integrated and dynamic, our Digital offer is a single team of legal professionals from a wide range of disciplines, all of whom combine in-depth knowledge of traditional areas of law with a comprehensive understanding of digital services, their opportunities and their legal implications. Our expertise spans all of our practice areas including intellectual property, compliance, IT, data privacy, commercial, corporate and employment. Our Digital service is designed to break down traditional law firm practice area boundaries to give you holistic, joined-up legal advice.

Services for private individuals

All of us have at least part of our lives online and in digital assets such as emails, social media profiles, cryptocurrency and online bank accounts, to name just a few. The law recognises that digital assets can be owned. However, there is no consistency between assets and you may find that some of your most valuable assets are mere licences to use a third-party provider’s service. This has significant consequences when attempting to access, manage and transfer digital assets after death.

We represent wealthy individuals who are looking for comprehensive advice regarding their digital assets, investments and reputations, with a particular focus on what will happen to these assets when they die. 

With ever-growing increase of our ‘digital’ footprint, the legal and taxation treatment of digital assets is also becoming increasingly unknown. Collyer Bristow’s Tax and Estate Planning team have long been following this trend and have industry leading expertise. The team can provide estate planning advice for online (banking and trading) accounts, email accounts, online profiles (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram) photos stored in the cloud etc. to ensure smooth transition. Succession and tax planning in regard to financial investments such as Crypto, NFTs. Assisting the emerging wealth client who have made their wealth via an online presence, ensuring appropriate legal structuring (wills/LPAs/Trusts) measures are in place in case of incapacity or death.

Some of the things we can help with include:

  • Ensuring that digital assets such as emails, cryptocurrency and digital online accounts are properly owned, managed and protected at death, and can legally pass to the intended beneficiaries.
  • Putting in place Lasting Powers of Attorneys to enable trusted individuals to look after your digital assets when you are no longer capable and ensure they have the power to deal with third-party providers.
  • Structuring the ownership of crypto assets and non-fungible tokens for optimum tax efficiency, both in life and on death.
  • Managing your digital footprint and online identity to avoid privacy exposures and their knock-on effects on a hard-built reputation.

 

Services for businesses

The businesses we advise range from innovative start-ups looking to disrupt the market in imaginative ways to global enterprises wanting to secure their competitive edge with digital solutions. Whoever you are and whatever your objectives, our focus is to help you cut through the tech hype and bridge the gap between your technical aspirations and the reality of your business, compliance, and operations functions. We can help you understand the legal risks and opportunities early on, make confident decisions and protect your best interests and reputation.

While it’s impossible to give full details of all the services we can offer our business clients, here’s a snapshot of the type of work we do for our clients engaged in all aspects of the digital economy, including artificial intelligence, Esports, the metaverse and those utilising Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies:

  • Advising on the commercial elements of intellectual property issues around NFTs, the Metaverse, Esports and AI
  • Drafting and negotiating software development, licensing and sponsorship agreements and other commercial contracts
  • Guidance on compliance with data protection legislation and data breach response
  • Advising companies and projects looking to raise funds via ICOs and STOs in regards to UK law and FCA regulation
  • Advising on domain name disputes
  • Resolving disputes involving digital assets and cryptocurrencies
Make an enquiryClose more information
 
Services

We help businesses & individuals in complex digital issues including:

Click an area of focus above for more information.

Make an enquiry The Metaverse

From gaming to commerce to the workplace, the metaverse is making waves everywhere. We proactively support the next generation of tech-enabled businesses to capitalise fully on the opportunities being presented by these dynamic virtual spaces while mitigating vulnerabilities and legal risks.

By definition, the metaverse is borderless—a meeting point for multiple technologies, platforms, software, peripherals and interfaces, as well as blockchain for acquiring digital assets like NFTs. This is often at odds with the territorial nature of IP laws. It’s important to work with a legal team that understands the commercial challenges and grey areas when operating in the virtual worlds sector.

Cutting across conventional practice areas, our metaverse team advises on regulation, commercial contracts, funding, cybersecurity, software development, software licensing, intellectual property, privacy and data protection, digital design/ Online Choice Architecture issues, online safety, real estate, taxation and more. Clients trust us to ensure that all elements of their metaverse operations are legally sound to help them take advantage of fast-moving developments in this space.

Make an enquiryClose more information
 

Make an enquiry Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the way we do business. From chatbots and natural language processing to smart factories and robotics, AI can help businesses automate and optimise processes. But it also presents a wide range of legal challenges and questions, especially in areas of compliance and data privacy. Can works created by AI be protected? How do you handle security, ensuring that an individual’s data-privacy rights are protected? Who is liable for the information generated by AI chatbots? What are the employment consequences if the use of AI results in redundancy, unintentional discrimination or a bias in your hiring practices?

Navigating regulatory compliance, liability risk, privacy, governance and ownership rights calls for a knowledgeable, experienced team. Collaborating with clients across the AI ecosystem—and covering all legal services that touch on AI—we can help you make the most of these game-changing technologies while staying alive to both the commercial issues that surround the use of AI and an ever-increasing array of global regulations.

From the procurement and contracting of AI-enabled services to intellectual property strategies, data management, ethics and cybersecurity, our specialist team has you covered.

Make an enquiryClose more information
 

Make an enquiry Esports/Gaming

The esports – competitive videogaming – sector is booming and with it, the commercial, regulatory and legal challenges that set this sector apart from its counterpart in traditional sports. Those operating in this area need an in-depth understanding of advanced technology, media rights and sports regulatory issues to name just a few. It’s a fast-moving sector, and you need legal advice that can keep pace with the diverse range of issues at play.

Drawn from specialist lawyers across all of our practice areas, our dedicated esports team regularly advises clients on the full spectrum of issues that arise within esports. Our work includes:

  • Protecting your core assets, content and IP
  • Technical and regulatory compliance
  • Sponsorship and brand partnerships
  • Media and broadcasting
  • Advertising regulations and adtech compliance
  • Child welfare, age restrictions and online safety
  • Image rights and reputation management
  • Cybersecurity
  • Data protection
  • Disputes and litigation
Make an enquiryClose more information
 

Make an enquiry Cryptocurrencies

We have a flourishing FinTech practice acting across the breadth of business stages from start-up, through rapid growth and to exit. Working with a wide range of companies, entrepreneurs, investors and venture capitalists, we understand the challenges they face, and offer a uniquely tailored service.

Our practice advises a diverse client base including challenger banks, peer-to-peer e-payment vehicles, Forex companies, high net worth individuals and those utilising Blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies and digital assets.

We regularly advise companies and projects looking to raise funds via Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and Security Token Offerings (STOs) in regards to UK law and FCA regulation and the contractual relationship between those offering the token and the token holder. We have particular expertise advising on corporate, commercial, data protection, intellectual property issues and in resolving disputes around digital assets.

We understand that, in this space, simple is better. We keep our approach light touch, focusing only on what needs to be done to secure the best result as quickly as possible, freeing you up to focus on the progression of your business.

Find out more.

Make an enquiryClose more information
 
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    Digitalisation key contacts

    Latest content and downloads

    Check out our latest content and downloads View all our downloads

    Crypto & digital assets series

    LPAs and digital assets

    The importance of putting in place Lasting Powers of Attorneys (“LPAs”) cannot be overstated. The choice of attorney and informing them of your wishes is particularly vital when considering digital assets. The pertinency of this is increased with more valuable assets such as cryptocurrency.

    Crypto & digital assets series

    Non-fungible tokens (NFTs)

    With an increase in demand for advice about digital assets, it is important to ask: what are NFTs? How are NFTs taxed during an individual’s lifetime and subsequently on death? How can we ensure access for attorneys and personal representatives whilst guaranteeing security for these high-value assets?

    Crypto & digital assets series

    Planning with crypto assets

    The rise and fall of cryptocurrencies is something regularly publicised in today’s media. It is increasingly important for individuals to understand how crypto assets are taxed, both in life and on death, and ensure the consideration of crypto assets in succession planning.

    Crypto & digital assets series

    Estate planning for digital assets

    Fundamentally, digital assets are the possessions you access on a digital device. These assets are normally stored online and accessed via a personal online account run by a third-party provider such as Google, Facebook, Ebay, Amazon, Apple or Netflix. Examples include emails, social accounts, and cryptocurrency.

    CRYPTO & DIGITAL ASSETS: An overview of our expertise

    An overview of the services and expertise provided by our flourishing FinTech practice, working with entrepreneurs, investors and venture capitalists across the breadth of business stages.

    Recent experience

      Digitalisation

      Digitalisation

      Lawyers at the cutting edge of digital transformation

      The world is transforming faster than ever before. Across many sectors, traditional business models have either been or are being disrupted by digital innovation, paving the way for new opportunities and changing “the way that things are done.” 

      Read more

      Private investors are also seeking to capitalise on digital opportunities. Today, holding cryptocurrencies on a blockchain is becoming as commonplace as having cash in the bank. But digital transformation isn’t just about tech: there are legal implications to consider. These tend to be multi-faceted, cutting across compliance, data privacy, cyber security, employment, tax, antitrust, estate planning and other legal areas. And the rules can change quickly as the digital landscape evolves.

      A team dedicated to everything digital

      Integrated and dynamic, our Digital offer is a single team of legal professionals from a wide range of disciplines, all of whom combine in-depth knowledge of traditional areas of law with a comprehensive understanding of digital services, their opportunities and their legal implications. Our expertise spans all of our practice areas including intellectual property, compliance, IT, data privacy, commercial, corporate and employment. Our Digital service is designed to break down traditional law firm practice area boundaries to give you holistic, joined-up legal advice.

      Services for private individuals

      All of us have at least part of our lives online and in digital assets such as emails, social media profiles, cryptocurrency and online bank accounts, to name just a few. The law recognises that digital assets can be owned. However, there is no consistency between assets and you may find that some of your most valuable assets are mere licences to use a third-party provider’s service. This has significant consequences when attempting to access, manage and transfer digital assets after death.

      We represent wealthy individuals who are looking for comprehensive advice regarding their digital assets, investments and reputations, with a particular focus on what will happen to these assets when they die. 

      With ever-growing increase of our ‘digital’ footprint, the legal and taxation treatment of digital assets is also becoming increasingly unknown. Collyer Bristow’s Tax and Estate Planning team have long been following this trend and have industry leading expertise. The team can provide estate planning advice for online (banking and trading) accounts, email accounts, online profiles (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram) photos stored in the cloud etc. to ensure smooth transition. Succession and tax planning in regard to financial investments such as Crypto, NFTs. Assisting the emerging wealth client who have made their wealth via an online presence, ensuring appropriate legal structuring (wills/LPAs/Trusts) measures are in place in case of incapacity or death.

      Some of the things we can help with include:

      • Ensuring that digital assets such as emails, cryptocurrency and digital online accounts are properly owned, managed and protected at death, and can legally pass to the intended beneficiaries.
      • Putting in place Lasting Powers of Attorneys to enable trusted individuals to look after your digital assets when you are no longer capable and ensure they have the power to deal with third-party providers.
      • Structuring the ownership of crypto assets and non-fungible tokens for optimum tax efficiency, both in life and on death.
      • Managing your digital footprint and online identity to avoid privacy exposures and their knock-on effects on a hard-built reputation.

       

      Services for businesses

      The businesses we advise range from innovative start-ups looking to disrupt the market in imaginative ways to global enterprises wanting to secure their competitive edge with digital solutions. Whoever you are and whatever your objectives, our focus is to help you cut through the tech hype and bridge the gap between your technical aspirations and the reality of your business, compliance, and operations functions. We can help you understand the legal risks and opportunities early on, make confident decisions and protect your best interests and reputation.

      While it’s impossible to give full details of all the services we can offer our business clients, here’s a snapshot of the type of work we do for our clients engaged in all aspects of the digital economy, including artificial intelligence, Esports, the metaverse and those utilising Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies:

      • Advising on the commercial elements of intellectual property issues around NFTs, the Metaverse, Esports and AI
      • Drafting and negotiating software development, licensing and sponsorship agreements and other commercial contracts
      • Guidance on compliance with data protection legislation and data breach response
      • Advising companies and projects looking to raise funds via ICOs and STOs in regards to UK law and FCA regulation
      • Advising on domain name disputes
      • Resolving disputes involving digital assets and cryptocurrencies

      Make an enquiry

      Key Contacts

      View the team

      We help businesses & individuals in complex digital issues including:

      The Metaverse

      From gaming to commerce to the workplace, the metaverse is making waves everywhere. We proactively support the next generation of tech-enabled businesses to capitalise fully on the opportunities being presented by these dynamic virtual spaces while mitigating vulnerabilities and legal risks.

      By definition, the metaverse is borderless—a meeting point for multiple technologies, platforms, software, peripherals and interfaces, as well as blockchain for acquiring digital assets like NFTs. This is often at odds with the territorial nature of IP laws. It’s important to work with a legal team that understands the commercial challenges and grey areas when operating in the virtual worlds sector.

      Cutting across conventional practice areas, our metaverse team advises on regulation, commercial contracts, funding, cybersecurity, software development, software licensing, intellectual property, privacy and data protection, digital design/ Online Choice Architecture issues, online safety, real estate, taxation and more. Clients trust us to ensure that all elements of their metaverse operations are legally sound to help them take advantage of fast-moving developments in this space.

      Artificial Intelligence

      Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the way we do business. From chatbots and natural language processing to smart factories and robotics, AI can help businesses automate and optimise processes. But it also presents a wide range of legal challenges and questions, especially in areas of compliance and data privacy. Can works created by AI be protected? How do you handle security, ensuring that an individual’s data-privacy rights are protected? Who is liable for the information generated by AI chatbots? What are the employment consequences if the use of AI results in redundancy, unintentional discrimination or a bias in your hiring practices?

      Navigating regulatory compliance, liability risk, privacy, governance and ownership rights calls for a knowledgeable, experienced team. Collaborating with clients across the AI ecosystem—and covering all legal services that touch on AI—we can help you make the most of these game-changing technologies while staying alive to both the commercial issues that surround the use of AI and an ever-increasing array of global regulations.

      From the procurement and contracting of AI-enabled services to intellectual property strategies, data management, ethics and cybersecurity, our specialist team has you covered.

      Esports/Gaming

      The esports – competitive videogaming – sector is booming and with it, the commercial, regulatory and legal challenges that set this sector apart from its counterpart in traditional sports. Those operating in this area need an in-depth understanding of advanced technology, media rights and sports regulatory issues to name just a few. It’s a fast-moving sector, and you need legal advice that can keep pace with the diverse range of issues at play.

      Drawn from specialist lawyers across all of our practice areas, our dedicated esports team regularly advises clients on the full spectrum of issues that arise within esports. Our work includes:

      • Protecting your core assets, content and IP
      • Technical and regulatory compliance
      • Sponsorship and brand partnerships
      • Media and broadcasting
      • Advertising regulations and adtech compliance
      • Child welfare, age restrictions and online safety
      • Image rights and reputation management
      • Cybersecurity
      • Data protection
      • Disputes and litigation

      Cryptocurrencies

      We have a flourishing FinTech practice acting across the breadth of business stages from start-up, through rapid growth and to exit. Working with a wide range of companies, entrepreneurs, investors and venture capitalists, we understand the challenges they face, and offer a uniquely tailored service.

      Our practice advises a diverse client base including challenger banks, peer-to-peer e-payment vehicles, Forex companies, high net worth individuals and those utilising Blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies and digital assets.

      We regularly advise companies and projects looking to raise funds via Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and Security Token Offerings (STOs) in regards to UK law and FCA regulation and the contractual relationship between those offering the token and the token holder. We have particular expertise advising on corporate, commercial, data protection, intellectual property issues and in resolving disputes around digital assets.

      We understand that, in this space, simple is better. We keep our approach light touch, focusing only on what needs to be done to secure the best result as quickly as possible, freeing you up to focus on the progression of your business.

      Find out more.

      Make an enquiry

      Recent experience

        Need some more information? Make an enquiry below.

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