Website documents

We specialise in the creation and adaptation of all kinds of legal documents for use on websites. We recommend that websites should include, at the very least, a disclaimer setting out limitations of liability and detailing the scope of the licence of rights in the site.

The more sophisticated a website is, the more attention you should give to legal issues. For example, websites which collect personal information (such as names and addresses) should always have a privacy policy or equivalent document; e-commerce websites should always include terms for the sale of goods or supply of services.

We are also expert in preparing IP licences, chat room/bulletin board agreements, internet use policies, and so on.

Website legal audits

Our website legal audits help you to identify and manage any legal risks arising out of your website.

The kind of legal disputes that websites typically give rise to - for example involving copyright or libel - often need specialist legal advice. Specialist legal advice is expensive; litigation involving these kinds of dispute can be ruinous

We have special expertise in the areas of law which have the greatest impact on websites and web businesses: intellectual property, media law, IT and contract law.

Website contracts

Web designers and developers will want to ensure that their standard contractual documentation protects their interests. For example, their web design agreements should ensure that the process of website creation doesn't get out of control, that web professionals' interests in the copyright in websites they create is adequately protected, and that web designers' liability is limited if something goes wrong.

On the other hand, web designers' clients may ask for an assignment of copyright, and they will expect to be able to get redress from their web designers if something goes wrong.

In standard form documentation, a balance needs to be struck between protecting your own interests and avoiding wasteful negotiations with each new contract.

We are expert in the drafting and negotiation of standard form and bespoke web development agreements, web design agreements, hosting agreements, hosting terms and conditions, website maintenance agreements, SEO agreements, email marketing agreements, website content licences, website advertising agreements, domain name licences and assignments, and similar contracts.

IT contracts

We also specialise in drafting, adapating and negotiating IT contracts and related legal services.

IT contract preparation requires not only legal expertise, but also an appreciation of current technologies and business trends in the the IT industry. We believe that you will be hard-pressed to find expertise comparable to ours in a similar price-bracket.

We are able to prepare and negotiate B2B and B2C software licences, software maintenance agreements, software development agreements, hardware supply agreements and similar contracts.

Commercial contracts

The phrase "commercial contracts" covers many kinds of agreement. We have substantial experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, such as agreements for the supply of goods and services, consultancy contracts and consultancy agreements, confidentiality agreements, non disclosure agreements and NDAs, novation agreements, distribution contracts, agency agreements, sponsorship contracts, intellectual property assignments and licences, and similar contracts.

Legal advice

We are able to provide expert legal advice and related legal services in relation to most aspects of the law relating to the creation and management of websites and conduct of business on the internet generally.

We specialise in the following legal services:

• copyright and related rights
• confidentiality
• consumer law
• contract law
• defamation and malicious falsehood
• design law
• data protection and privacy law
• e-commerce law
• e-marketing law
• domain names
• passing off
• publishing law
• trade mark law
• website accessibility law

Domain name disputes

We represent individuals and companies in domain name disputes and arbitration proceedings. We act for both complainants and respondents. We are experts in the procedural and substantive rules governing domain name arbitration proceedings. We are also experts in the law relating to registered and unregistered trade marks in the UK (and at the EU level).

We are able to accept instructions in connection with any English-language UDRP (.com, .net, .org and other gTLDs) proceedings, Nominet (.uk) proceedings, English-language EURid (.eu) proceedings, and certain other proceedings.

You can find more details of our the legal services we offer on our domain name disputes page.