Shoosmiths LLP

Our Technology Sector Group comments on upcoming trends and developments to expect in 2025 for the sector. 1. Artificial intelligence (AI) In 2025, AI will remain front and centre, as the hype of the last 18 months gives way to more widespread deployment of AI solutions across organisations – but with that will come increasing legal and compliance challenges. Firstly, the phased implementation of the EU AI Act will start to take effect, with key requirements on prohibited AI, and the need to ensure AI literacy across organisations, coming into force as early as February...

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 removes the “toxic” rights of rentcharge owners to recover historic rentcharges from landowners and reforms the process for their recovery. Background Historic rentcharges require owners of property subject to a rentcharge to pay an annual sum (usually a nominal amount) to the owner of the rentcharge.  There are draconian rights of recovery where they are not paid. These are set out in section 121 of the Law of Property Act 1925...

Shoosmiths today announces the appointment of noted M&A and Corporate Finance lawyer Kurt Ma as a partner in London.He joins the Corporate team, where he will develop the firm’s premium, cross-border M&A offering, particularly in financial services and technology. Kurt joins from BCLP, where he managed an international practice advising corporates, funds and financial institutions on M&A, PE, joint ventures, and investments. Before BCLP, Kurt trained and worked at Slaughter and May for 10 years, including secondments to New York and Beijing...

Shoosmiths today announces that the firm has brought in a six-person intellectual property (IP) team, led by partners Dominic Farnsworth and Leigh Smith, who are set to add strength and depth to the firm’s market-leading IP capability, as well as add new high-profile clients in the technology, financial services and consumer brands sectors.The team acts for some of the world’s most recognisable brands — including large US tech companies, financial services providers, entertainment properties, premium beverage brands and global marketing agencies — that will broaden and enhance Shoosmiths’ existing client base...