Laurence is a highly experienced solicitor. He is a recognised expert in the areas of intellectual property, media, information technology and e-commerce.

He also has extensive experience in other fields of corporate and commercial law, including shareholder agreements, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions and business acquisitions and sales.

Laurence was National Head of the Technology, Media & Communications practice at Garretts, a member firm of Andersen Legal and, before that, a leading member of the Computer, Media & IP Group at Paisner & Co, (now Berwin Leighton Paisner).

Laurence established his own legal practice in June 2002, specialising in e-commerce, electronic media, publishing and technology law.

His clients range from multinationals to start-ups. He has extensive experience in advising on contracts and transactions in the IT, new media, publishing and information industries and on all aspects of Internet and e-business law. He also advises a number of media industry bodies on EU legislation in the fields of e-commerce and new media.

Laurence has recently advised on the following matters:

Renewal of a patent licence agreement

Strategic software licence and distribution agreement for the financial services industry

‘Across the board’ advice for business information and personal finance websites operated by one of the Europe’s leading business publishers

Leader of multi-jurisdiction data protection audit of leading US business information provider

Range of strategic alliance contracts in the media and information industries, covering both copyright content and IP

Web-related infrastructure contracts

Taking part in negotations between copyright owners and representatives of internet service providers to find common ground in some of the key provisions of the EU Copyright Directive

Negotating strategic alliance contracts in the media and information industries, covering both copyright content and IP

Acting as arbitrator in a dispute under the Informal Dispute Settlement procedure operated by The Publishers Association.

Other experience
Laurence has wide experience in commercial law. This includes extensive current and past experience in handling corporate finance and commercial/IP deals and contracts. He was instrumental in devising and building the FT’s IP-based index licensing programme (now part of FT-SE International).

Publications
Feature article on `The New EU Directive for the Legal Protection of Databases', published in Interactive Media International Newsletter, March 1996.

Article on `Copyright in the 21st Century', published in Multimedia - The Magazine, August 1996

Article entitled 'The implications of the IP laws of other countries to publishers' published in The Multimedia and CD-ROM Directory 1997

Article published on the 'Implementation of the Database Regulations into UK Law' in Interactive Media International, March 1998

Article published in Journal of Information Science, 25(1)1999 - “Owning and licensing content - key legal issues in the electronic environment”

Article published in The Rights Report, March 1999 - “From page to screen - how to get through the contractual minefield”

"Copyright Directive clears the European Parliament", E-Commerce Law & Business, 2001

Editor of UK Contribution to ‘E-Commerce Law in Europe and the USA’, book published by Andersen Legal and Springer, 2002

“Copyright: alive, well and ready for the digital upturn”, Interactive Media International, November 2002

Author of ‘Three Pillars of Copyright”, Electronic Publishing Services Briefing Report, December 2002

Memberships
Member of the Society for Computers & Law (“SCL”)

Committee member of SCL’s Internet Special Interest Group

Member of Digital Content Forum, Intellectual Property Interest Group

Qualified:	Mediator
Specialist Areas:	Intellectual Property Information Technology Media & Publishing
Education:	Sidney Sussex, Cambridge
General Information:	Laurence is a highly experienced solicitor. He is a recognised expert in the areas of intellectual property, media, information technology and e-commerce. He also has extensive experience in other fields of corporate and commercial law, including shareholder agreements, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions and business acquisitions and sales. Laurence was National Head of the Technology, Media & Communications practice at Garretts, a member firm of Andersen Legal and, before that, a leading member of the Computer, Media & IP Group at Paisner & Co, (now Berwin Leighton Paisner). Laurence established his own legal practice in June 2002, specialising in e-commerce, electronic media, publishing and technology law. His clients range from multinationals to start-ups. He has extensive experience in advising on contracts and transactions in the IT, new media, publishing and information industries and on all aspects of Internet and e-business law. He also advises a number of media industry bodies on EU legislation in the fields of e-commerce and new media. Laurence has recently advised on the following matters: Renewal of a patent licence agreement Strategic software licence and distribution agreement for the financial services industry ‘Across the board’ advice for business information and personal finance websites operated by one of the Europe’s leading business publishers Leader of multi-jurisdiction data protection audit of leading US business information provider Range of strategic alliance contracts in the media and information industries, covering both copyright content and IP Web-related infrastructure contracts Taking part in negotations between copyright owners and representatives of internet service providers to find common ground in some of the key provisions of the EU Copyright Directive Negotating strategic alliance contracts in the media and information industries, covering both copyright content and IP Acting as arbitrator in a dispute under the Informal Dispute Settlement procedure operated by The Publishers Association. Other experience Laurence has wide experience in commercial law. This includes extensive current and past experience in handling corporate finance and commercial/IP deals and contracts. He was instrumental in devising and building the FT’s IP-based index licensing programme (now part of FT-SE International). Publications Feature article on `The New EU Directive for the Legal Protection of Databases', published in Interactive Media International Newsletter, March 1996. Article on `Copyright in the 21st Century', published in Multimedia - The Magazine, August 1996 Article entitled 'The implications of the IP laws of other countries to publishers' published in The Multimedia and CD-ROM Directory 1997 Article published on the 'Implementation of the Database Regulations into UK Law' in Interactive Media International, March 1998 Article published in Journal of Information Science, 25(1)1999 - “Owning and licensing content - key legal issues in the electronic environment” Article published in The Rights Report, March 1999 - “From page to screen - how to get through the contractual minefield” "Copyright Directive clears the European Parliament", E-Commerce Law & Business, 2001 Editor of UK Contribution to ‘E-Commerce Law in Europe and the USA’, book published by Andersen Legal and Springer, 2002 “Copyright: alive, well and ready for the digital upturn”, Interactive Media International, November 2002 Author of ‘Three Pillars of Copyright”, Electronic Publishing Services Briefing Report, December 2002 Memberships Member of the Society for Computers & Law (“SCL”) Committee member of SCL’s Internet Special Interest Group Member of Digital Content Forum, Intellectual Property Interest Group