Technology/IT

Our technology/IT specialists offer comprehensive advice on start-ups and new joint ventures, with experience with the sale of large technology businesses that have been sold for tens of millions. We also regularly advise on IT contracts such as licenses and software development agreements.

In this sector we have acted for decades for significant Tech businesses, including Tait Communications. Our Consultant Peter van Rij was Chairman of Tait Limited for many years and remains on the Board of Directors.  Our clients range from those involved in start-up software businesses to those with new inventions and technologies that are still at the research stage.  Some of our clients have been involved in different lightning labs and accelerators around the country and we have experience reviewing the associated documentation that comes with those programs.

In the educational sector we act for Digital Future Aoteroa and Partner Kris Morrison is a Board Member.

We have also recently started our own IT start-up “Active Associate” working with software developers on a solution that we think can be used in the legal industry.  This process has meant we have had to directly face, ourselves, many of the curly issues that confront early stage IT companies and funding rounds and issues associated with them.

We have experience in all aspects of technology/IT law including

  • Joint ventures
  • Terms of Trade
  • Software Licensing
  • Technology contracts

Contact one of our Technology/IT experts

Need more information? See our latest blogs on Technology/IT matters

When do Directors Need to put Creditors Ahead of Shareholders?

In New Zealand, directors may become liable for reckless trading…
28/11/2022/by Tasha Fraser

Advertising your fundraising effort

Your business is thriving and you need substantial additional capital to fund the next stage of your growth. You have read up on the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 (“FMCA”) (available here) and would prefer to raise funds through one of the Schedule 1 exemptions from product disclosure statement requirements (discussed here). Being proactive, you have already approached your close business associates, relatives, and employees while also taking full advantage of your statutory small offers limit, but it is still not enough.
21/10/2022/by Tasha Fraser

Introduction to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme

The New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (the “NZ ETS”) was introduced as a tool to combat climate change in Aotearoa New Zealand. It was created under a 2008 amendment to the Climate Change Response Act 2002 (the “Act”) with the purpose to help Aotearoa New Zealand meet its international greenhouse gas emissions obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, and to meet its 2050 targets and emissions budgets.
18/10/2022/by Tasha Fraser

How can Limited Partnerships help Entrepreneurs?

The Limited Partnership regime was introduced fairly recently in New Zealand through the Limited Partnership Act 2008.  As such, limited partnerships may not be as familiar to Kiwi entrepreneurs and founders.  In this article, we highlight a few of the advantages and disadvantages of choosing a limited partnership for your business structure.  In our view, they represent a relatively simple structure which can really be useful in the right situation.
14/09/2022/by Tasha Fraser