Legal support for startups and scale-ups in tech

Growing a tech business means making high-stakes decisions at speed. You need legal advice that’s practical, commercial and built for the challenges you’re facing; whether that’s closing a funding round, entering new markets, managing data risk or keeping investors onside.
 

You might be navigating the early days of a startup, scaling a proven product or expanding into the UK. Wherever you are in your growth journey, your legal support should help you move faster - not hold you back.

Legal advice that grows with your business

Fundraising and investment

Whether you're investing in a startup for the first time or you're a seasoned backer, navigating the early-stage investment process can be complex. You need clear, practical advice, from agreeing heads of terms through to completion.

Likewise, if you're a founder raising funds, whether for your first venture or your fifth, you want lawyers who understand the fast-paced world of high-growth businesses and can guide you through each stage of the process.

Kingsley Napley’s team supports both investors and startups with the legal insight and commercial awareness needed to get deals done smoothly and confidently.

Find out more by reading our startup investment page.

 

technology Contracts

Move quickly on key partnerships, protect your technology and manage risk. We help with IT services contracts, IT outsourcing agreements, IT support and maintenance contracts, SaaS agreements, software development contracts, platform terms, software licensing, AI and much more.

Find out more by reading our Commercial & Technology Contracts, Outsourcing & Data page.

 

Data privacy and cybersecurity

Scale responsibly and stay compliant. From compliance with applicable data protection laws to advising how to handle data breaches in a way which helps to minimise financial and reputational damage,  we help you manage data risk across multiple jurisdictions.

Find out more on how we can keep your business compliant and secure in the digital age by reading our data protection compliance page and our data breaches page.

 

Employment, Immigration and incentives

Attract and retain talent globally. Get support with employment contracts, contractor agreements, employment policies and procedures, worker status, restrictive covenants, employment disputes and processes, share schemes (like EMI) and visa sponsorships to support growth across borders.

Find out more by reading our immigration services for the tech sector page.

 

Tech disputes

When things go wrong, our litigation team acts quickly and commercially. We advise on disputes involving contracts, intellectual property, insolvency, data protection, and shareholder or board conflicts We are experienced in resolving disputes in court and also through alternative dispute resolution outside of the courtroom, for example through mediation. Find out more by reading our dispute resolution page.

 

FCA Regulatory support

If you operate in the financial services industry, you may be within the regulated perimeter. For crypto and other fintech businesses, we offer early-stage perimeter advice, support with authorisation / approval applications and help with any FCA supervisory enquiries you may receive.

Find out more by reading our FCA page.

 

Exits, M&A and international expansion

Prepare for what’s next. We advise on UK and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, keeping legal complexity under control and your deal on track. Find out more by reading our M&A pages for selling and acquisitions.

 

In the Press

•  Short Of Tech Talent? Perhaps You’re Looking In The Wrong Places - Forbes, June 2023
• UK attractiveness to foreign tech entrepreneurs remains high - BusinessMatters, June 2023

 

We pride ourselves on taking a proactive approach, forging long-term relationships with our clients and business partners. Our team works with major organisations within the British tech ecosystem such as:

• Angel Academe
• Global Tech Connect
• Google for Startups Campus
• Bethnal Green Ventures

Some examples of our Work

Commercial Contracts

• Advising an AI technology firm on its legal and regulatory obligations in the UK and EU, its user terms of service and accompanying policies;
• Advising a large global law firm in relation to its own internal key technology contracts;
• Advising a well-known property management company regarding a software development and exploitation agreement;
• Advising a medium-sized financial services sector software-as-a-service company on its B2B subscription agreements;
• Advising a hotel housekeeping and facilities management business on the acquisition of business-critical software and an accompanying software maintenance agreement;
• Advising a start-up on the terms of a software as a service subscription agreement for an innovative interactive app that will involve the processing of children special category data, together with accompanying website terms of use, privacy policy and other legal documents;
• Advising a Web3 start-up on its customer terms and conditions relating to its non-custodial Web3 wallet software; and
• Advising a media sector charity on the terms of its engagement of a developer to re-design and re-launch its website.

Mergers and Acquisitions 

• Acting for the founders on a $20m sale of a technology business to a listed company 
• Advised on a founder exit and subsequent restructure
• Advising the shareholders of Plasma App Limited in relation to its sale to Meta Materials Inc, a NASDAQ listed company, for all-share consideration of US$20m 
• Advising the sellers of an edtech startup on the sale of the business
• Acting on a purchase of business and assets out of a company in administration

Raising Funds and Investing in Startups

• Acting for a mindfulness startup on a £550,000 equity raise 
• Acting for an angel investor on a £100,000 investment into a satellite communications services startup
• Advising a health teach startup on a £1.2m investment from VCs and angel investors 
• Advising a data tech startup on a £400,000 investment via advance subscription agreements 
• Advising a construction tech startup on a £1.3m investment from VCs and angel investors

Immigration Support

• Advising a fintech start up on the steps required to obtain a Skilled Worker sponsor licence against a very tight deadline, to include obtaining work permission for a senior staff member against a tight deadline
• Advising a multi-national corporation setting up an office in the UK and working with them to establish a corporate presence, to include the transferring of staff from abroad
• Advising and assisting a variety of highly skilled individuals on the steps required to obtain an endorsement through Tech Nation under the Global Talent route

Employment Law 

• Advising a tech start up working with charities on the termination of its COO
• Advising a marketing tech start up on employment contracts to be used throughout Europe
• Drafting contracts, policies and procedures for a global tech company
• Advice to the tech arm of a media company on use of employers of record for employment outside the UK

• Advising on employment aspects of multi-million pound deals for a large multi-national tech outsourcing company.

 

Built for ambitious tech companies
 

You’re building something complex, fast-moving and high-growth. Your lawyers should understand the pressures that come with that, and help you make clear, confident decisions when it matters most.