Tech Group

The world is being disrupted by tech

Technology today is all-pervasive, impacting every area of business in every industry sector, globally.

At Clifford Chance we recognise that rapid advances in technology such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, blockchain, big data and cyber security are significantly impacting our clients' business models, their growth strategies and even day-to-day decision making, bringing opportunities to be harnessed and risks to be navigated.

Integrated and dynamic, our Tech Group is a single global team delivering strategic tech law advice to help clients stay ahead of the curve and outstrip the pace of change.

Introduction to the Tech Group

Watch our 90 second overview of the Tech Group and learn how we can guide your business through the challenges presented by tech disruption and stay ahead of the curve. Turn sound on for the full experience.

A new approach to solving tech challenges

The Clifford Chance Tech Group offers clients, wherever they are located and whatever industries they operate in, a new approach to meeting their tech challenges by breaking down traditional law firm practice area boundaries.

We are an integrated multidisciplinary team of over 600 tech-savvy lawyers located around the world delivering holistic, joined up, expert legal advice to both tech and non-tech clients on their most exciting, complex and transformational tech-related matters.

Latest reports

AI: the evolving legal landscape in Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific (APAC) is a first mover in relation to AI regulation. Mainland China, in particular, has had city or regional regulations in place for some time and, more recently, enacted national AI regulations targeted at particular types of AI services or use. Across APAC, however, approaches vary significantly in relation to regulating AI. This article explores AI-related legislative developments across APAC, as part of our APAC tech themes series.

Responsible AI in practice

Public awareness of AI a is increasing and with it questions how AI will be used and the impact it will have on our lives. To help identify the pressures faced by policymakers and demands from stakeholders, our report, in partnership with Milltown Partners – Responsible AI in Practice analyses the results of focus groups of policy-informed individuals conducted in the U.S., the UK and Germany.

Responsible AI report

Digital transformation and the energy transition

The twin challenges of the energy transition and digital transformation are tightly linked, – with each playing a crucial role in the success of the other. On the one hand, digital transformation is helping us reduce our carbon footprint in a variety of ways, be it through video calls, new forms of mobility or the real-time monitoring of how much energy we are using at home. On the other hand, we need to ensure that those technologies do not consume more energy than they need to.

Read about energy transition

Generative AI: The big questions

As legal, technology and risk-management teams collaborate to support business-critical decisions, establish forward-looking frameworks and embed responsible AI in company strategy, being able to assess and advise on AI with a holistic understanding of the changing legal and policy landscape has never been more important. Here our experts examine some of the big questions to address when exploring generative AI opportunities.

Learn more here

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Tech

It's no secret that the tech industry faces significant diversity, equity, and inclusion challenges, ranging from the lack of diversity in tech roles through to the adverse impact of new technologies on society.

Our Tech Group DEI Committee was formed to amplify initiatives from underrepresented voices across our global network. This has included the curation of online sessions to allow our tech lawyers and clients to have authentic conversations covering key DEI strands including gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity and disability inclusion and specific tech challenges. Jonathan Kewley Co-Chair of the Tech Group founded a scholarship programme with Hertford College, University of Oxford to prioritise Tech ethics and computer science research. This supports people from diverse backgrounds to be part of this generationally important debate, and to design safety and fairness into the technology which now is all around us.

Tech is in our legal DNA

Read more about how we can help your business survive and thrive in a tech-enabled world.

Tech-heavy M&A transactions

Today, the success of almost all businesses is driven by technology, whether as a core product or as a key enabler of their operations. Our Tech Group M&A expertise goes beyond traditional deal-making issues to advising clients on how to lock in the rewards and limit the risks of a wide range of technological issues.

Clifford Chance is recognised globally as a leading M&A adviser, with long-standing expertise in advising leading technology companies on mergers and acquisitions as well as non-tech companies on the potential tech implications of proposed M&A. We are experts in complex, multi-jurisdictional matters and delivering considered strategic corporate advice.

Tech development and renewal

Technology is advancing fast, companies are having to develop better systems and processes to keep up. Our Tech Group experts can help facilitate businesses' migration to tech-enabled platforms, support BPO, assist with tech procurement and renewal and advise on tech R&D projects.

Tech risk, disputes and investigations

Regulators are increasingly focusing on competition enforcement in the tech sector. The pressure to adapt and to innovate in response to this trend has created legal challenges for businesses that our Tech Group is uniquely placed to help you overcome.

Our Tech Group lawyers skillset spans cyber-security and antitrust breaches, regulatory investigations and the misuse of data. Our experts are also able to handle disputes, such as those arising out of IP enforcement, and in relation to outsourcing contracts.

Tech advisory and compliance

The advent of GDPR and new US regulations are placing high demands on clients. So too is the ever-increasing risk of cyber-attacks. Our specialists can advise on the full spectrum of advisory & compliance scenarios, including anti-bribery and corruption compliance, financial regulatory licencing, IP monetisation strategies and public policy support. We can also assist in regulatory change watch and developing cyber-attack response plans.

Client highlights

SenseTime Group

We advised SenseTime Group, China's leading artificial intelligence firm, on its US$410 million Series B preferred share investments from renowned private equity funds and institutional investors, including CDH, Sailing Capital and China International Capital Corporation. This is the largest single round investment in an AI company globally.

AIA

We advised AIA, the leading Pan-Asian life and health insurance group, on a collaboration with BlackRock and BNY to transform its investment platform. This will deliver industry-leading investment solutions and create a unified and scalable ecosystem to support AIA's growing investment activities.

FairSearch and Foundem

We represented FairSearch, an association advocating for fair, merit-based competition in digital markets, and served as co-counsel for Foundem in the landmark Google Shopping case before the European Court of Justice.

EVRY

We advised EVRY on a multi-billion dollar outsourcing with IBM, to manage the IT infrastructure that supports its operations in Norway and Sweden.

Volkswagen Group

We advised Volkswagen Group on the international aspects of the technical collaboration agreements with electric vehicle manufacturer, XPENG, on platform and software collaboration for two mid-size Volkswagen-brand vehicles, following Volkswagen's US$700 million strategic minority investment in XPENG representing 4.99% of its outstanding share capital in December 2023.

Imagination Technologies Group

We advised Imagination Technologies Group, an independent IP licensing business, in respect of a Takeover Code-governed offer for Imagination by a subsidiary of funds managed by Canyon Bridge Capital Partners, LLC.

Clifford Chance

Tech Group - Technology Lawyers

Global. Integrated. Tech Expertise.