Shieldpay is on a mission to deliver secure, high-value B2B payments that people trust and a company that people love to work for

oneSaaS is a standardisation initiative aiming to shape the future of SaaS agreements by bringing together industry leaders to simplify, streamline and scale how customers and vendors do business with each other.

I headed up Stephenson Law's Corporate team, advising founders, investors and fast-growth companies on a wide range of transactions. Some of the things I helped with included:- Investment rounds from pre-seed to Series B and beyond- Employee share schemes including EMIs, CSOPs and sub-plans for non-UK companies- Debt finance- Company sales and acquisitions- Share buybacks and restructuring projects- Founder exits- Corporate governance and shareholder activism campaignsI was also the firm's SRA Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) and Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO).

I work with fast-growth tech businesses on the legal aspects of developing and marketing their products and services and raising money from angel and venture capital investors. I also focus on how technology can be used to improve the efficiency of and engagement with the legal teams in these businesses.I aim to combine technical legal knowledge with a deep understanding of both tech and the tech sector to provide clear and commercial advice, which many clients comment as my strength.Stephenson Law is a specialist, independent law firm doing things differently. Adept, adaptable, commercially minded and customer-focussed, we provide common sense support to our clients which include the in-house legal teams of leading international companies and early-stage tech companies.

Stephenson Law is a specialist, independent law firm doing things differently. Adept, adaptable, commercially minded and customer-focussed, we provide common sense support to our clients which include the in-house legal teams of leading international companies and early-stage tech companies.

I was seconded for two days per week for just over a year to the in-house legal team at Renishaw, a FTSE 250-listed global engineering company with a specialism in coordinate-measuring machines, machine tool and additive manufacturing products.During my time I advised on various commercial technology and data protection matters including:- Implementing an open source software compliance programme and delivering training to over 100 software engineers and product owners- Drafting a suite of standard form procurement terms for goods, services, on-prem and cloud-based software solutions- Negotiating complex and high-value procurement contracts for an array of general business and purpose-specific hardware and software products- Advising on international data transfers within the corporate group, including drafting an intercompany data sharing agreement- Coordinating with business teams on completing data protection impact assessments and advising on data protection matters generally- Revising software licensing terms and EULAs for company products

Highlights of 2017/18- Advising an innovative online recruitment start-up on data protection matters and platform terms- Advising a connected audio business on inward and outward API terms and data protection matters- Advising a leading valve actuation manufacturer on supply contracts within the defence and utilities sectors- Advising a leading developer of hotel management software and a leading direct mail and fulfilment business on GDPR compliance- Advising a fisheries authority on a pioneering project to install VMS technology on mobile fishing vessels- Advising a specialist furniture designer on a licensing contract with a Chinese manufacturer- Advising a leading smart meter manufacturer on a high-value supply contract with a utilities provider- Advising a software house on a licensing agreement with a major international software companyHighlights of 2016/17- Advising an award-winning start-up on a Series A funding round with a leading deep tech VCT- Advising a connected audio business on data privacy matters, development and platform services agreements and related support contracts- Advising two leading consumer audio manufacturers on data privacy matters and terms and conditions for a partner app- Advising an innovative VAT compliance platform on platform terms and reseller agreements- Advising the operator of a gTLD on various commercial agreements with its technical service providers- Advising one of the UK's largest independent press agencies on one of the first platform development project partnerships under the Google Digital News Initiative- Advising a startup on matters relating to the launch of an online platform for ordering food and drink for local independent producers and traders- Advising a startup that has developed a desktop vacuum former on a £480,000 seed investment round

Highlights of 2015/16:- Advising a connected audio startup on its establishment, significant first round investment and acquisition of database assets- Advising on the launch of a new generic Top Level Domain together with a number of innovative platform services, to include advice on domain name regulation; IP protection; technology platform agreements; cryptocurrencies and blockchain- Advising a leading jewellery brand on franchising matters- Implementing EMI schemes for a number of high-growth businesses- Advising a leading direct mail business on software development and licensing contracts- Advising a specialist social media consultancy on its client agreementsHighlights of 2015:- Acting for a new online music platform on its acquisition of an algorithm-based software product from a Californian developer- Advising a GreenTech startup on the marketing of patented voltage regulation technology to include advice on consumer protection and data privacy- Preparing terms and conditions and advising on data protection issues for a startup which is set to transform the way graduates and professionals market themselves- Advising a market-leading developer of software for the construction industry on development and licensing of a new cloud-based solution- Advising a leading direct mail and marketing communications business on software licensing and strategic IP issues

Highlights:- Advising an online recruitment platform on its terms and conditions and privacy policy- Advising a leading firm of independent financial advisers on the data protection implications of launching an online pensions auto enrolment service- Advising the shareholders of the UK's largest healthcare management consultancy on its acquisition by a global healthcare company- Drafting terms and conditions and an acceptable use policy for a hosted video provider- Advising a leading packaging design studio on contracts with major global brands- Advising an independent software developer on the assignment of rights in software for a large cash sum and an executive-level position- Advising a digital media events business on the assignment and licensing of brand rights- Advising a top-tier university on various hardware and software procurement projects of between £50k and £8m in value- Advising a UK biocidal products company on a licensing deal with a Dutch company- Assisting with a number of company acquisitions by the UK subsidiary of a Swiss-based investment fund.

Third seat: Corporate & Commercial (with a secondment to IOP Publishing, Bristol)Gained significant experience in corporate transactional work (including M&A; MBOs; demergers; and other corporate restructurings) and commercial work (including IT/IP; agency, distribution and franchising; and other general commercial agreements).Second seat: Commercial PropertyAssisted with the sale and purchase of commercial properties and landlord and tenant matters. Involved in the negotiation of an option agreement and lease for a large-scale wind farm development.First seat: FamilyGained experience of family law and procedure, particularly in relation to complex ancillary relief proceedings involving pensions, companies and foreign property ownership. Drafted briefs to Counsel, witness statements and appeared before a District Judge for an FDA.

For 1-2 days per week intermittently, I was seconded to the in-house legal team of one the UK's leading research-intensive universities. I supported the team on a wide variety of projects which included:- Collaborating with other Russell Group universities on the development of the contracting model for Doctoral Training Partnerships/Centres for Doctoral Training- Procurement of various systems including a campus-wide ERP solution, high-performance computer cluster, lecture capture system, library management system, computer aided facilities management system, campus Wi-Fi and a multitude of SaaS platforms- Migration to Google Apps for Education and subsequent migration to Microsoft 365- Various projects for the 3G/4G Smart Internet Lab including collaborations with industry partners- Advising on the acquisition of the Oliver Messel Theatre Collection

Providing legal assistance to a start-up record label on legal affairs including recording and distribution agreements.

As part of my training contract, I was seconded to the in-house legal team at Institute of Physics (IOP) Publishing, a worldwide leader in scientific publishing, where I assisted with: reviewing and drafting software development, maintenance, hosting and licensing agreements; implementing compliance with the Privacy & Electronic Communications Regulations in respect of cookies across a network of approximately 100 websites; advising the editorial and design teams on marketing and advertising during the Olympics; advising on copyright and trademark issues (including registration of a global collective mark); drafting various documents in connection with the company's websites; and advising on data protection issues.

I led on the drafting and negotiation of clinical research contracts and contracts for the commercialisation of inventions by the Trust's clinicians and staff.I was also responsible for project-managing the development of the Trust's research quality management and compliance systems as well as handling any regulatory affairs issues.

Managing the implementation of quality assurance and quality control systems in line with the Clinical Trials Regulations, ICH GCP and other legislation applying to medicines and medical devices.Also working with the team to identify problems with the research governance process and working on improvements.