Legal Counsel

IP/IT, Data Protection & Commercial

Expertise

Brian is a highly knowledgeable, commercial and practical lawyer in all matters relating to artificial intelligence, information technology, data protection, intellectual property (IP), interactive entertainment and commercial law. He has worked extensively on technology and SaaS agreements, as well as the more traditional development, publishing and IP licensing arrangements and has advised extensively on data protection related matters.

Brian is an expert in the field of artificial intelligence, acting as consultant legal counsel to a leading international SaaS business providing translation services to businesses worldwide and to an international conversational AI software business that enables organizations operating in regulated industries to safely harness the power of generative AI to automate the majority of its online interactions.

Brian also is an expert in the field of interactive entertainment, having been formerly Head of Legal Affairs at Virgin Interactive Entertainment, as well as Acting Head of Legal at Computer Artworks Limited and Acting Group Legal Manager at Sega Europe.  Brian has also worked extensively with charities and in the public sector and was formally IT Counsel at NSPCC and Portsmouth City Council.

Brian Advises On

  • Artificial intelligence and the impact of IP and data protection
  • Software development and publishing agreements
  • System supply, support and maintenance agreements
  • Website and e-commerce terms and conditions
  • SaaS agreements
  • Trade marks, copyright and design rights
  • Distribution agreements
  • Franchising agreements
  • Framework agreements
  • Warehousing agreements
  • Licensing agreements
  • Standard terms of trade
  • Customer agreements
  • Affiliate commissioning sharing agreements

Experience Highlights

  • Commercial arrangements for the licensing of conversational AI
  • Outsourcing agreements for debt recovery, call centre and customer services, software provision and technical support
  • Advising a major producer of bicycles on international data protection issues affecting its business
  • Advising on franchising terms for a well-known charity
  • Advising on a top six accountancy firm on the terms of a platform agreement for the bundling and distribution of financial data
  • Advising on IP/IT due diligence on sale and purchase of various public houses for a well-known brewer

Publications

Career History

Previous Law firms

  • Laytons LLP, Partner, 2019–20
  • Cripps LLP, Partner, 2018–19
  • Stone King LLP, Partner, 2012–18
  • Davenport Lyons, Partner, 2002–09
  • Sheridans, Partner, 1999–2000
  • GSC, Partner, 1994–99
  • Frere Cholmeley Bischoff, Solicitor & Trainee, 1990–94

Previous Businesses

  • Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) — Acting Head of Legal Affairs (secondment)
  • Sega Europe Ltd — Acting Group Legal Manager (secondment)
  • Computer Artworks Ltd — Acting Head of Legal Affairs (secondment)
  • NSPCC — IT Consultant (contract)
  • Portsmouth City Council — IT Consultant (contract)

Memberships

  • Society of Computers & Law

Education

  • University of Cambridge

Expertise

Back to top

Brian is a highly knowledgeable, commercial and practical lawyer in all matters relating to artificial intelligence, information technology, data protection, intellectual property (IP), interactive entertainment and commercial law. He has worked extensively on technology and SaaS agreements, as well as the more traditional development, publishing and IP licensing arrangements and has advised extensively on data protection related matters.

Brian is an expert in the field of artificial intelligence, acting as consultant legal counsel to a leading international SaaS business providing translation services to businesses worldwide and to an international conversational AI software business that enables organizations operating in regulated industries to safely harness the power of generative AI to automate the majority of its online interactions.

Brian also is an expert in the field of interactive entertainment, having been formerly Head of Legal Affairs at Virgin Interactive Entertainment, as well as Acting Head of Legal at Computer Artworks Limited and Acting Group Legal Manager at Sega Europe.  Brian has also worked extensively with charities and in the public sector and was formally IT Counsel at NSPCC and Portsmouth City Council.

Brian Advises On

Back to top

  • Artificial intelligence and the impact of IP and data protection
  • Software development and publishing agreements
  • System supply, support and maintenance agreements
  • Website and e-commerce terms and conditions
  • SaaS agreements
  • Trade marks, copyright and design rights
  • Distribution agreements
  • Franchising agreements
  • Framework agreements
  • Warehousing agreements
  • Licensing agreements
  • Standard terms of trade
  • Customer agreements
  • Affiliate commissioning sharing agreements

Experience Highlights

Back to top

  • Commercial arrangements for the licensing of conversational AI
  • Outsourcing agreements for debt recovery, call centre and customer services, software provision and technical support
  • Advising a major producer of bicycles on international data protection issues affecting its business
  • Advising on franchising terms for a well-known charity
  • Advising on a top six accountancy firm on the terms of a platform agreement for the bundling and distribution of financial data
  • Advising on IP/IT due diligence on sale and purchase of various public houses for a well-known brewer

Publications

Back to top

Career History

Back to top

Previous Law firms

  • Laytons LLP, Partner, 2019–20
  • Cripps LLP, Partner, 2018–19
  • Stone King LLP, Partner, 2012–18
  • Davenport Lyons, Partner, 2002–09
  • Sheridans, Partner, 1999–2000
  • GSC, Partner, 1994–99
  • Frere Cholmeley Bischoff, Solicitor & Trainee, 1990–94

Previous Businesses

  • Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) — Acting Head of Legal Affairs (secondment)
  • Sega Europe Ltd — Acting Group Legal Manager (secondment)
  • Computer Artworks Ltd — Acting Head of Legal Affairs (secondment)
  • NSPCC — IT Consultant (contract)
  • Portsmouth City Council — IT Consultant (contract)

Memberships

  • Society of Computers & Law

Education

  • University of Cambridge

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