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Wireless technologies -- are lawyers worth the expense?

By Johanna Gibson, David Pearce, Jeremy Phillips and Ilanah Simon.

Cambridge Wireless is a community of companies with a shared interest in the application of wireless technologies. Its activities are based around a number of Special Interest Groups (SIGs), each focused on a specific technology and/or market area. SIG meetings provide opportunities for member organisations to meet, form partnerships and exploit opportunities for new business.

One of its forthcoming SIG meetings is "A Guide to Best Practice: When Lawyers Add Value, Not Cost". This event takes place on the afternoon of 10 July 2008 (2.15pm to 5.30pm) in Cambridge Business Park [says the IPKat that's Cambridge, England, not Cambridge, Mass.]. The programme is hosted by CSR ("The UK government gateway to corporate social responsibility") with the support of Cambridge Wireless and sponsorship from London-based law firm Olswang. Apart from examining the premise that it's worth paying lawyers, the event also provides the opportunity to discuss the launch of a Cambridge Wireless Legal SIG, to provide a forum to develop legal best practice. The target audience is aimed at people working on, or interested in legal, regulatory or compliance issues in the technology sector.

Speakers billed so far are the Olswang pair of Nigel Swycher (Head of Technology) and Competition partner Alasdair Balfour, who will consider a range of Open Source, FRAND and IP strategy considerations under the rubric "The intersection between Intellectual Property and Competition Law". Next comes "M&A Trends in the Wireless Sector", by John Melotte (Regional Director, Corum Group), a set of insights into trends arising from the latest research on global M&A transactions in the wireless sector for software and IT. The final speaker is Andrew Peddie (Corporate Partner, Olswang), who will suggest best practice before, during and after an M&A transaction and the real benefits to reduced timescales and transaction costs. Given that his talk is entitled "Frictionless M&A", it might be thought that there was little need for lubrication. But, after a short discussion concerning the formation of the Cambridge Wireless Legal Special Interest Group, lubrication is thoughtfully provided in the form of a drinks reception immediately after the event.

IPKat team member Jeremy will be there, and may even be tempted to add a few choice words of his own. Places are limited, so register early to avoid disappointment. To join Cambridge Wireless and to attend all future events of this group, click here.

Full post as published by IPKat on June 13, 2008 (boomark / email).