Understanding AI governance is crucial in today's rapidly evolving technological landscape. As it ensures that artificial intelligence systems operate ethically, transparently, and in compliance with legal standards. By reducing the risks associated with algorithmic bias, data privacy, and security vulnerabilities, effective AI governance promotes stakeholder trust and upholds organisational integrity.

Our legal experts are well-equipped to guide boards and management teams through the complexities of AI regulation. With our deep industry knowledge and bespoke advice, we can help your business develop robust governance frameworks that align with both current legislation and best practices in AI deployment. 

In an era where artificial intelligence is increasingly integrated into business operations, understanding regulatory compliance regarding AI is paramount. AI systems that comply with regulations not only adhere to legal standards but also operate ethically and transparently. This mitigates risks associated with data privacy breaches, algorithmic biases, and potential legal liabilities. 

Our legal experts possess extensive knowledge of AI regulations and are adept at navigating the complex landscape of compliance requirements. We provide tailored advice to help your business align with current laws and best practices, ensuring that your AI initiatives are both innovative and legally sound. 

Is it clear who owns the content that generative AI platforms create for you, or your customers? Do copyright, patent and trademark infringement apply to AI creations? Before your business can embrace the benefits of generative AI, you need to understand the potential risks and how to protect yourself.

Our experts understand the legal challenges that come with AI content and related IP ownership as well as the intricacies of training generative AI tools.

AI tools are reshaping industries. But one thing that will never change – needing to protect your users' data. We can help you preserve privacy rights whilst unleashing the benefits of AI. We have experience helping companies create privacy-related documentation for the use of AI, data transfer agreements, and data privacy strategies, and advise on all data protection issues which may arise in relation to AI.  

The AI sector is considered to be one of the fastest growing in the global economy. It's creating numerous innovative start-ups, which – especially at the beginning of their life cycle – are dependent on external financing.   

At Taylor Wessing, we accompany both investors and AI start-ups in their financing rounds and also advise on mergers and acquisitions within the sector.

In the realm of artificial intelligence, understanding litigation related to both employment and consumer class actions is increasingly crucial. AI systems can inadvertently lead to disputes around issues such as algorithmic bias in hiring processes or privacy breaches affecting consumers. Due to the host of uncertainties around these legal challenges they require a nuanced comprehension of how AI technologies interact with existing laws and regulations. 

Our legal experts are highly skilled at navigating these complexities, offering bespoke guidance to help you or your business mitigate risks and effectively manage potential litigation. Whether you need assistance with preventive measures or active defence strategies, our team ensures your AI operations remain compliant and legally resilient. 

In today's digital age, where artificial intelligence is increasingly integrated into various sectors, understanding cyber security in relation to AI is imperative. Ensuring robust cyber security measures protects AI systems from potential threats such as data breaches, hacking, and other malicious activities that can compromise sensitive information and operational integrity. Sufficient cyber security not only protects the AI infrastructure but also fosters user and stakeholder trust by showcasing a dedication to data security. 

Our legal experts offer comprehensive guidance on navigating the complexities of cyber security in the context of AI. With our deep industry knowledge and tailored advice, we can assist you or your business in implementing effective security frameworks that comply with current regulations and best practices, ensuring your AI operations remain secure and resilient against evolving threats. 

The AI revolution doesn't stop at employment. There are a wide variety of AI tools that can be used to simplify and manage HR systems and processes. But their use can also introduce risk if they're not used carefully, with cases of discrimination against applicants based on age, gender or ethnicity reported.  

We can advise you on which current international AI regulations apply to HR systems and explain which legal requirements your company has to fulfil to ensure you're operating on safe ground.

AI software liability is one of the hot topics in current legislative processes globally, with fierce debate on who is liable to what extent for the damage caused by an AI product. The recent new EU AI Act has further intensified these discussions, aiming to establish clearer guidelines and responsibilities for developers, manufacturers, and users of AI technologies.

We can help you clarify liability issues in relation to your AI products, and will represent you in and out of court against consumer claims or mass actions. 

Today's global financial system would be unimaginable without the use of technology, with online banking and fintech integral to everyday life. But the financial services sector is also highly regulated, and introducing AI technologies must be done carefully.  

We can advise you on all areas of compliance and risk management concerning AI in financial services, including the use of chatbots in customer service or securities trading and collective portfolio management based on AI software.  

While AI offers significant benefits, it's also created real challenges for competition regulators. They face the difficult task of ensuring sufficient protections are in place to guard against unintended, potentially anti-competitive market effects, without hindering innovation and growth. 

Both regulators and legal professionals are grappling with AI's implications for fair competition, market dominance and consumer welfare. Regulators have learnt from past mistakes and have adopted a proactive approach, developing new regulatory tools and frameworks to ensure that AI-driven markets remain competitive and fair. 

Our Competition team has helped a number of clients with competition issues related to AI. We can help you ensure that AI technologies are deployed responsibly and fairly, reducing regulatory risk so you can maximise opportunities.

AI is being used in the life sciences and healthcare sector to develop more accurate and efficient medical treatments, identifying patterns and analysing information faster than human practitioners are capable of doing alone. But in such a highly regulated sector, a balance must be found between the reasonable use of AI and the protection of patients' privacy.  

We offer our clients comprehensive advice on the current legislative initiatives affecting life sciences and healthcare, and specialise in advising on the handling of personal data.

Founded in 2001, BlackLine provides leading accounting automation software to more than 4,200 customers in 130 countries including Dominos Pizza, The Coca-Cola Company and Ebay.

Its solutions include financial close management, accounting automation, and intercompany governance, which help large enterprises and midsize companies do accounting work more efficiently, with more control.

As an innovation-focused company, BlackLine has always sought to implement technologies that can improve its services. Recognising the potential of AI, in 2020 it identified an M&A opportunity – AI-powered cloud platform Rimilia. Due to our extensive experience with emerging technologies and tech-focused transactions, BlackLine asked us to advise on this acquisition.

The $150m transaction drew on the expertise of practices across the firm, including:

• Corporate
• Employment
• Tax
• Corporate Technology.

By acquiring Rimilia, BlackLine expanded its capabilities by adding AI-powered accounts receivable automation to its accounting platform. It was a pleasure helping BlackLine progress its long-term plan to transform and modernise finance and accounting.

Empolis is a leading provider of cloud-based and AI-powered business intelligence and analytics software. It provides solutions to international public and private sector clients including BMW, Bosch and Vodafone, with 700,000 people using Empolis products every day.

Empolis has been recognised as one of the leading AI pioneers in Germany, and its AI capabilities have caught the attention of large organisations. It has collaborated with Amazon Web Services's Machine Learning Prototype team to embed generative AI capabilities into its smart decision support solutions, allowing users to easily obtain business-critical information.

In 2022, keen to add Empolis's leading intelligent service, knowledge and content management products to its portfolio, proALPHA acquired Empolis. Due to our reputation for advising leading tech companies, Empolis's shareholders/Empolis asked us to advise on this transaction.

It drew on the expertise of a number of our German practice and sector groups, including:

• Corporate/M&A
• Tax
• Employment
• Technology, Media and Communications
• Real Estate
• Competition, EU and Trade.

Through this acquisition proALPHA gained access to Empolis's state-of-the art AI technology, integrating Empolis's products into its ERP+ portfolio. Empolis has continued to act as a legally independent unit within the proAlpha Group, and together they're helping customers improve efficiency around the world.

Five AI is an autonomous driving start-up that builds self-driving software and development platforms to help create the technological foundations for autonomous driving. Autonomous vehicles are predicted to be a multibillion-dollar industry, and innovators with leading technology are attractive acquisition targets for larger automotive companies.

In 2022, Five AI found itself in this exact position when it was acquired by Bosch, one of the world's biggest mobility providers. To ensure this acquisition went smoothly, Five AI needed advice from a law firm with extensive experience delivering tech-focused transactions and a strong grasp of the key issues that come with the automotive sector.

Due to our reputation for delivering excellence in both, Five AI asked us to advise them on this transaction. It was led by experts in our Corporate team, with additional support provided by a range of our practices including:

• Banking and Finance
• Commercial Technology and Data
• Disputes and Investigations
• Employment
• Intellectual Property
• Real Estate
• Tax and Incentives.

With this acquisition Bosch improved its autonomous driving capabilities and has further consolidated its market position in software and automated driving. It was a pleasure to advise Five AI on this transaction, which now has access to Bosch's core technologies and vast data lakes which will be essential in bringing safe self-driving systems to market.

Learneo is a US-based provider of educational software solutions that develops and acquires breakthrough learning and productivity technologies. It operates six distinct businesses as part of its platform, including AI-powered writing companion QuillBot and AI-based mathematics resource Symbolab.

In May 2023, Learneo was looking to add another brand to its platform and asked us to advise on the acquisition of LanguageTool, a German-based multilingual writing platform.

A Taylor Wessing team led by our German M&A practice advised Learneo on all German aspects of the transaction, with support from colleagues in the US. The transaction required the expertise of a number of our practice groups including:

• Corporate/M&A
• Employment, Pensions and Mobility
• Intellectual Property
• Information Technology
• Commercial Agreements and Distribution
• Competition, EU and Trade.

This acquisition allowed Learneo to expand its range of writing solutions, add LanguageTool's unique language and AI expertise to its business, and advance its larger international expansion strategy.

Shipyard Technology Ventures is a leading global venture builder on a mission to create and co-create great companies. It works with large organisations to co-create independent start-ups free from the constraints of their business, offering them the option to purchase the start-up at a predefined price in the future if the company is successful.

One such success story is BoatyardX. A high-growth custom software developer, BoatyardX has established a reputation for future-proofing businesses with robust open-source software and world-class UI/UX design. It was co-created as part of Shipyard Technology Ventures' portfolio in 2019 and has significant expertise in building cloud-based custom software for clients in the fintech, payments, e-commerce and IoT sectors.

We're recognised as having one of the strongest venture capital practices in Europe, with experience advising leading technology businesses in various sectors across their life cycle.

When Shipyard Technology Ventures decided to sell BoatyardX in 2022, they approached us to advise them on selling the business to Ergo, Ireland's largest privately-owned IT services company. The transaction was led by members of the Taylor Wessing Ireland Corporate team, with support from Taylor Wessing UK's Intellectual Property practice.

Through this acquisition Ergo added BoatyardX's international experience and strength in custom cloud-based product development to its software capability. This will allow it to meet growing demand for bespoke business critical applications and to build new products that address emerging market opportunities in the future.

Qubit developed AI-powered personalisation technology for merchandising teams across various sectors including luxury fashion, DIY and hospitality.

In 2021, it asked us to advise on its acquisition by Coveo, a Canadian relevance platform and applied AI company that transforms digital experiences with AI-powered search, recommendations, and personalisation. The transaction was led by our UK Corporate practice, with additional support provided by our Tax and Incentives practice.

This transaction further accelerated Coveo's geographic expansion into the UK and European markets. Acquiring Qubit's capabilities will allow Coveo to accelerate the delivery of more innovative personalised digital commerce experiences and provide retailers with innovative, AI-powered e-commerce solutions.

Sony is one of the most recognisable brands in the world. Perhaps most famous as a global leader in consumer electronics due to its Playstation brand, the Sony Group Corporation has diversified into multiple sectors including films, semiconductors, electric vehicles, music and sports.

Sony's sports business includes officiating and goal-line technology product Hawk-Eye and digital media company Pulselive. In 2022, it was looking to make a new strategic investment and asked us to advise on the acquisition of Beyond Sports.

Beyond Sports is a Dutch AI-based visualisation company that analyses sports games with virtual reality. Since being founded in 2014, it has built a reputation for delivering world-class data and data visualisation to organisations, and its technology is used by some of the biggest names in sports including ESPN, the NFL and the NHL. 

The transaction was led by Taylor Wessing Netherlands, who guided Sony through the complex data and technology aspects of Beyond Sport's business. The acquisition of Beyond Sports marked a key step in Sony's plan to provide a market-leading, end-to-end data tracking and visualisation solution to leagues, federations and broadcasters.