Technology Projects and Outsourcing

The current decade has seen 'outsourcing' evolve into 'strategic sourcing' as the efficiency gains, and other benefits of entrusting an organisation's non-core functions to vendors are more open to question and scrutiny - whether you are looking at a full outsourcing scenario, a limited managed service provision, or a multi-sourcing environment (perhaps with service 'towers' and an integration layer), we have the legal support experience you are looking for.

What we do

Our technology projects and outsourcing team is one of the largest in the UK, with global expertise. We work with a range of major organisations on outsourcing transactions, advising on transformational IT and outsourcing projects, often for clients with international businesses. We mainly act on the customer side (albeit our team members have worked for the suppliers also); we understand that the outsourcing of IT operations or related business processes is a demanding experience for the customer and needs early planning and a quality support team of internal and external advisers.

What we are known for

Our national team in this area has real strength in depth - we typically handle deals with a value of around £2 billion at any one time. This depth of experience helps our clients with not only the pure contract side of the project, but also extends into broader areas of commercial support and strategic advice.

We work for large public sector bodies on deals worth hundreds of millions - we are one of just seven firms approved to support central government departments with IT project work.

We continue to develop our client base in the financial services sector, acting for national and global financial services businesses on large international IT projects.

Our main focus is project work, ranging from software development projects to major ICT outsourcing arrangements. With the relevant trends in the market including multi-sourcing and 'cloud' solutions these are features we regularly come across on our deals.

Detailed elements of our services

We are flexible as to the extent of our role, often covering the following areas:

• Existing Arrangements/Options Appraisal, including due diligence, distressed contract scenarios, leveraged renegotiation;
• Defining the procurement and outsourcing strategy: Decisions taken must be owned by you, but will be facilitated by our best practice guidance - getting a plan with a clear road map up front is essential;
• Supporting the procurement process: RFQ/RFP, vendor evaluation, public sector regulatory expertise;
• Development of template contract: Drafting is dealt with in light of your long term ability to manage the outsourcing relationship cost efficiently – supporting the development of the technical and financial schedules is usually part of our role;
• HR issues: Early legal analysis to support strategic decisions;
• Multi-jurisdictional capability through 'best friends’ in all major countries: Linked to our active role in the International Technology Law Association.