IT and digital transformation

In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses must respond to shifting demands and dynamics. Effective digital transformation requires more than technical proficiency — it calls for strategic insight, commercial acumen, and an ability to navigate complex relationships. Our dedicated team provides sophisticated, practical advice, ensuring your IT and digital initiatives deliver maximum value, mitigate risk, and align seamlessly with your broader commercial objectives.

Legal expertise across the digital spectrum

Our specialist lawyers bring extensive experience in managing and negotiating intricate IT and digital transformation projects. Ranked consistently as a top-tier practice by both the Legal 500 and Chambers UK, our reputation is built upon a deep understanding of not just the legal framework, but the strategic and operational imperatives underpinning digital innovation.

We advise a diverse range of clients, from dynamic start-ups to leading global corporations and public sector organisations. Our expertise spans the entire digital spectrum, including artificial intelligence solutions, hardware supply and leasing, system integration and innovative cloud solutions (SaaS, IaaS, PaaS). Our lawyers have considerable experience of working in-house and on secondment, which gives us insider knowledge on the issues clients face.

Understanding that digital transformation projects often hinge on careful management of vendor relationships, we excel at drafting and negotiating reseller agreements, as well as complex IT outsourcing, business process outsourcing, and off-shoring arrangements. Our goal is to optimise your project spend, providing clear, actionable risk analyses and solutions that empower, rather than hinder your commercial strategy.

Recognised for its prowess across a full range of matters, including structuring and negotiating complex technology transactions, artificial intelligence projects, high-tech manufacturing agreements and work among novel and emerging technologies.

Data protection and cybersecurity are integral to any successful digital transformation. Our expert practitioners advise comprehensively on compliance with data protection laws, PCI DSS standards, and the complexities of e-commerce. Additionally, we bring seasoned expertise to resolving IT and outsourcing disputes efficiently and effectively, preserving commercial relationships and project momentum.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly reshaping the digital agenda, offering transformative potential across industries. We assist clients with the legal and commercial considerations involved in AI deployment – from procurement and governance frameworks to contractual risk allocation and intellectual property ownership. Our lawyers support businesses implementing AI tools within critical systems and services, helping to ensure compliance, mitigate bias and explainability risks, and futureproof contractual relationships.

How we help our clients

Artificial intelligence

Software licensing, support and maintenance

Hardware supply, leasing and support

System integration

Software development (including Agile and RAD models)

Cloud computing (SaaS, IaaS and PaaS)

Reseller arrangements

IT outsourcing, business process outsourcing and off-shoring

IT and outsourcing disputes

Online commerce

Data protection

Useful resources

PennStart – the legal support package designed specifically for start-ups and spin-outs

Navigating the journey of growth: Key legal considerations for scaling up

Emerging Companies Workshops

Data protection compliance service

Doing business in the UK

Beyond the code podcast: The legalities of AI

What we particularly appreciate about Penningtons is their excellent and rapid work and their high level of understanding of the context of issues.

Penningtons Manches Cooper’s IT team is brilliant, reliable and responsive. The quality of service is outstanding.

Penningtons Manches Cooper is recognised for its strength in the technology sector.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP provides ‘no-nonsense and business focussed advice’ to an impressive roster of technology corporates, in addition to university spin-outs.

Recent work highlights

Energy consumption tracking software

Advising an energy SaaS provider on a platform enabling investors and landlords to monitor and manage energy consumption across their building portfolio, increasing the visibility of environmental impacts and opportunities to reduce costs.

IT systems regulatory compliance advice

Assisting an international pharmaceutical company with the procurement and integration of two IT systems, which were designed to manage bar coding and the tracking of medicines in order to comply with regulatory requirements.

German bank IT systems implementation

Acting for a German bank on the strategic implementation of a new IT system, which involved multiple third-party suppliers. Our work included negotiating complex contractual arrangements and ensuring seamless integration.

SaaS solution contract structuring

Providing guidance to an international manufacturer and distributor on the contractual structure of its SaaS solution, which allows customers to schedule maintenance, inspection and repair activities, and complete legally required checks online.

Supply chain data protection review

Assisting a telecoms and cloud communications provider with a supply chain contract review in order to ensure data protection compliance, providing dedicated support through a virtual team within a particularly tight timescale.

International insurance platform agreements

Supporting an international platform integrating membership administration and claims management for insurers, including platform agreements with large insurance partners, and a collaboration for pre-paid digital cards for medical procedures.

Fintech AI CRM product development

Working with a fintech data provider on terms for a new AI-powered CRM product for investment opportunities, mapping data stream rights and data protection obligations.

Rail industry cybersecurity contracts

Providing ongoing support for a leading cybersecurity provider to the rail industry, including contractual arrangements for cybersecurity hardware and software supply.

R&D funding data protection guidance

Advising a UK R&D funding agency on day-to-day data protection issues, empowering scientists and engineers with resources and the freedom to pursue breakthroughs.

Predictive maintenance technology deployment

Acting for an AI provider of predictive maintenance technology in its negotiations with an international automotive manufacturer, implementing this technology in several of its global factories.

AI defence technology solutions

Advising an AI solutions provider in the defence sector on technology contracts and commercial matters, including support on the development, licensing and deployment of AI-driven technologies.

Data broker customer contracts

Acting for a UK-based data broker on customer contracts under a ‘strategic partner’ umbrella, addressing ownership and IP rights, as well as providing short-term secondments for legal services.