What we do

We advise our clients, which include cutting-edge technology start-ups, charities, government bodies, FTSE 100 and Forbes 500 companies, on the legal and regulatory issues that arise when they develop, scale, protect, exploit and procure technology.

We work across a broad range of sectors from automobile and advertising and marketing to FMCG and financial services. A significant part of our work is advising clients on issues arising from the use of personal data.

Whilst we are a firm of solicitors registered with the Solicitors Regulatory Authority and predominantly provide legal advice, our lawyers are all experienced business consultants. Many have sat on the board or undertaken company secretary roles in private and public companies.

If you need legal advice involving technology, data, communications or content, we can help you.

Our areas of expertise include:

Why choose us

Our single focus is understanding our client’s business to deliver exceptional service, wherever in the world they may be.

We distinguish ourselves from our competitors by the three core factors that define everything that we do. They are:

Agile, lean and responsive We run lean, efficient teams and use technology to deliver responsive and cost-effective legal services. Our systems have been designed to be adaptable to allow our lawyers to deliver services to our clients in the way that our clients want.
Unparalleled expertise We understand technology and the tech sector. All of our lawyers have worked for global tech companies and a number have launched start-ups and worked for early stage companies. Our experience is hands-on and thoroughly tested.
Commercial & pragmatic We are straight-talkers who will give you considered, insightful counsel. Our clients stay with us because we provide smart, practical, useful legal advice. We ensure that our fees reflect the value that we add to our clients’ businesses.

Our clients

We act for traditional organisations buying technology, established and new companies developing and exploiting technology as well as those investing in the business of technology.

Here’s what some of our clients have said about us:

• Garfield Smith – Technology and Data Lawyers advise us on all aspects of complying with data privacy laws in Europe. We instruct them because they understand the differences between US and European laws and offer practical solutions to some of the challenges that are created for US companies, like us, when doing business across the Atlantic.

  General Counsel – Large US Company

• All of my technology companies go to Garfield Smith on a broad range of challenging legal issues. Their advice is always clear, direct and commercially valuable. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Garfield Smith to any start-up, medium sized or large technology company.

  Well known UK Technology Entrepreneur and Investor

• When your business involves the collection of data from individuals, as ours does, complying with UK and European data privacy laws is essential. When I founded our company, Garfield helped us to understand exactly what we needed to get our business going with minimum fuss and expense. His firm’s reputation for assisting start-ups is exemplary.”

  Founder – UK Start-Up

• We work very closely with Garfield Smith – Technology and Data Lawyers. As well as legal advice, Garfield Smith is a trusted adviser to our board. His firm are good value, easy to work with, responsive and their city focus means that they understand Fintech.

  Director and Co-founder – UK Financial Services Emerging Technology Company

• I’ve found Garfield and his firm to be a highly capable, efficient, and a pleasure to work with. He helped my company, an augmented reality and computer vision company, bring products to market that the world had never seen. Garfield’s role, as a trusted advisor and collaborator, was instrumental in helping us innovate, manage risk, and identify opportunities. His firm has delivered time and time again for the CEOs and executives that I have referred and I’ve witnessed his versatility in delivering outstanding results for organizations ranging from early-stage startups to Fortune 100 companies.

  US Founder and Investor in Early Stage Tech Companies

• Great to be able to rely on truly experienced lawyers with commercial mindsets at a competitive price point. And it’s always a pleasure working with Garfield himself.

  General Counsel of UK Software Company

• Garfield has the unique ability to deliver expert legal advice with commercial awareness so you can make confident business decisions. By focusing on the important issues and identifying future opportunities, Garfield saves time, money and de-risks the company’s position.

  Managing Director – Emerging Technology Company

Insights

We continue to lead the way in legal, business and commercial thought leadership and insights in technology and the business of technology.

Cost cutting measures: employee redundancies
Key issues companies should consider when navigating the legally complex and emotionally charged topic of redundancy.
Caroline Hughes Rhian Radia 4 June 2024

What could a Labour government mean for business sales?
The effect of changes to the capital gains tax regime that could be introduced by a new Labour government.
Garfield Smith Infinity Corporate Finance 23 January 2024

Term Sheets in Investment Deals or Business Sales
An explanation of the role of term sheets in facilitating agreement on key commercial terms in investment deals and business sales.
Garfield Smith Amanda Sermon 29 September 2023

Consideration in share sale and purchases
A look at the legal issues arising from different ways to fund the sale and purchase of a business.
Garfield Smith Amanda Sermon 12 May 2023

So, you want to chase waterfalls?
An analysis of liquidation preferences in investment deals.
Garfield Smith Amanda Sermon 8 August 2022

Appointing a UK Representative to comply with GDPR
A guide for companies outside the UK on the requirement for a UK Representative to comply with the UK GDPR.
  Garfield Smith 14 September 2021

A Seven Step Guide to Handling a Personal Data Breach
A step by step guide for all organisations on how to properly manage a personal data breach to mitigate financial, regulatory and reputational risk.
Garfield Smith Victoria Theaker 21 May 2021

Force Majeure: No Longer Just Boilerplate
An examination of the importance of force majeure clauses in commercial contracts and the effect that recent global events have had on their drafting.
  Amanda Sermon 14 December 2020

The Age Appropriate Design Code: Time to Dust Off that DPIA
We look at the new legally binding code from the Information Commissioner’s Office on the processing of children’s personal data online that will come into force on 2 September 2021.
Garfield Smith Amanda Sermon 14 December 2020

Directors’ Liabilities: Are You Covered?
A brief review of the recent changes to the law in respect of Directors’ liability and the extent to which such liability may be covered by D&O Insurance.
Garfield Smith Amanda Sermon 9 December 2020

Electronic Signatures: The New Normal?
A useful summary of how different types of legal agreement may be properly executed using electronic signatures.
Garfield Smith Amanda Sermon 1 December 2020

Preparing a company for early stage investment
This article examines what early stage companies should do to prepare themselves for investment from a third party such as a business angel or VC investor.
Garfield Smith Amanda Sermon 1 December 2020

Ten legal issues to consider for early stage tech businesses
In this briefing we look at the top ten legal issues that a potential business owner should consider in the early days of a technology business; the ten things which can make all the difference between failure and success.
Garfield Smith Victoria Theaker 30 November 2020

News

All the latest news and commentary from Garfield Smith – Technology and Data Lawyers

About us

Garfield Smith leads our team of lawyers, hand-picked from top international firms for their expertise across technology, intellectual property, data compliance, corporate and commercial law.  Our lawyers are all qualified solicitors who have been at the forefront of technology and data law for over twenty years. All of us share a passion for technology and the business of technology, a focus on excellence in the delivery of professional services and a common desire to assist our clients to achieve their business goals. As a team, we’ve been part of the evolution of the modern TMT sector in the UK and have helped hundreds of clients, from cutting-edge start-ups to FTSE 100 companies and government bodies, to successfully develop, scale, protect, exploit and procure technology.

Since getting together in 2015, we’ve advised on technology deals worth over $1 billion and we are now regarded as one of the leading technology and data focussed law firms in the UK. We will continue to work hard to understand our client’s business, technology, objectives and risk and to remain evangelical about delivering an elite level of client service. We will continue to build our market reputation for always delivering the right results for our clients.

Garfield Smith Senior Solicitor
Managing Director Find out more

Amanda Sermon Senior Solicitor
Head of Corporate Finance Find out more

Caroline Hughes Senior Solicitor
Head of Commercial Technology, Data and Media Find out more

Victoria Theaker Senior Solicitor, Corporate and Commercial Find out more

Rhian Radia Senior Solicitor, Head of Employment Law Find out more

Tina Jenkins Chartered Management Accountant
Head of Accounts Find out more

Tom Lynton Marketing and Business Development, Graphic Designer Find out more

Simmy Babbra Marketing and Business Development, Paralegal Find out more

Contact us