TMT Law

Put simply…

Technology, media and telecommunications law (TMT) deals with the movement of communications across various different platforms, whether it’s television, print, the internet or mobile devices.

TMT lawyers are at the fast end of a quickly evolving area of law. If you get your kicks from new technology and the changing world around us, then TMT could offer you a great opportunity.

What does TMT law involve?

Legal services in the TMT sector include: providing advice on the licensing of software and hardware and outsourcing arrangements. A lot of work focuses on new media and technology developments, such as the internet, mobile telephony, data protection and privacy laws, e-commerce issues and fraud prevention.

With the rise of the internet giants, such as Google, Facebook, AllAboutCareers and Youtube, TMT is the area of law that is arguably undergoing the biggest boom. The phenomenal growth of the internet and cutting-edge next-generation technologies means that work is constantly piling in. As the world continues to move onto the internet in ever greater waves, this sector will only continue to expand.

With the development of the mobile phone and broadband internet, governments, institutions and companies are now investing in technology more than ever. This is definitely an exciting area of law to be associated with!

What does a TMT lawyer do?

A typical working week for a TMT solicitor will involve advising and drafting agreements on new business, contractual work for new projects, licensing and rights distribution. They might assist with advertising, marketing plans and commercial launches too.

Outsourcing is not uncommon in TMT, where lawyers will often be tasked with things like completing due diligence checks on the outsourcing partner, preparing and reviewing draft agreements, protection clauses and the rights and obligations of both parties.

The biggest attraction of outsourcing is the movement of I.T. functions and technical support to countries where business costs are lower and a qualified workforce is available at a cheaper rate. Consequently, TMT lawyers need to be familiar with business laws and regulations in several jurisdictions.

A TMT lawyer in e-commerce will focus on providing legal advice for clients that are setting up websites and online payment systems. Data security and the protection of content within the website are of paramount importance for these types of organisation.

What makes a good TMT lawyer?

A TMT lawyer needs to have in-depth knowledge of the technology and media industries and must be up-to-date on the latest developments and innovations. A decent knowledge of industry-specific terminology is also necessary.

Strong communication and negotiation skills are required. Furthermore, they will need to have excellent knowledge of commercial and corporate law. Enthusiasm and an appetite for new challenges is essential.