Information Technology
UK Guide 2025 : Northern Ireland
Band 1
About
Provided by Lewis Silkin
Lewis Silkin Northern Ireland is a pre-eminent tech law firm and leading advisers to local start-ups, major UK and Irish companies, as well as overseas investors.
They are best known for:
- Their ability to understand the technical detail of the IT products of clients. This expertise allows our lawyers to understand the particular story of any transaction – and to ensure that the particular requirements of the story are incorporated in bespoke contracts. The team uses their understanding of software, code and cloud services provision to shape contracts to the actual deal required by the client.
- The multi-disciplinary skills each lawyer can bring to a particular negotiation. As well as being proficient in IT law, the team’s lawyers are equally experienced in data protection, IP and general contract law. This means, for example, that Katey Dixon brings her GDPR expertise to help clients design software with the key post-GDPR quality of privacy by design. Similarly, Mary Traynor uses her commercial and in-house counsel experience to negotiate contracts both for IT services providers and their customer.
Finally, Rory Campbell uses experience from over 25 years to advise on and co-ordinate major IT implementation projects.
The firm is able to call on the assistance of Lewis Silkin’s practising and professional support lawyers in its London, Dublin, Oxford and Hong Kong offices. This gives the NI team a wealth of experience and legal skill to support its practice.
Chambers Review
Lewis Silkin offers a respected team that has experience across a broad span of IT matters. The department is adept at handling app development, telecommunications and open source issues for private individuals, companies and public sector bodies. It is heavily involved in the local Northern Ireland startup technology scene and can also draw on an international footprint to service its clientele.
Work Highlights
- Lewis Silkin advised Dexia on the outsourcing of its EUR17 billion bond portfolio management to Mount Street Capital.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The team has strong experience in the technology sector and strong experience in GDPR in the supply chain and across UK/EU boundaries."
"Lewis Silkin is excellent for responsiveness and timeliness of delivery - first class."
"Lewis Silkin is our trusted adviser. The lawyers have an ability to quickly distil down and resolve very complex issues in a timely manner. We're yet to have an issue that they can't solve."
"The team has strong experience in the technology sector and strong experience in GDPR in the supply chain and across UK/EU boundaries."
"Lewis Silkin is excellent for responsiveness and timeliness of delivery - first class."
"Lewis Silkin is our trusted adviser. The lawyers have an ability to quickly distil down and resolve very complex issues in a timely manner. We're yet to have an issue that they can't solve."
Notable Practitioners
Rory Campbell advises government clients and leading IT providers on the terms of IT supply, as well as working with UK and Irish startups in the tech sector. He is recognised for his expertise in open source software.
"Rory is an excellent lawyer. He responds rapidly to our queries, which is critical during contract negotiations."
"Rory is a pleasure to deal with."
"Rory is a charming lawyer and good fun to work with. He has good client relationships and he's very competent."
Mary Traynor is a data protection and tech regulation specialist with especially strong knowledge of GDPR. Her clients range from major international companies to startups.
"Mary is a delight to work with and the first person we think of when we need a great commercial lawyer. She is most responsive and she never fails to deliver against expected timelines."
"Mary is a go-to trusted adviser who never fails to deliver."
"Mary is an extremely knowledgeable data privacy lawyer and provides her clients with practical and effective advice. She's available, responsive and timely in her work."