Technology
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Technology is the driving force behind the growth and development of many other sectors and economies. It is transforming every aspect of business and society, creating new opportunities and challenges for organisations across all sectors. Rajah & Tann Asia is a market leader in the region that understands the legal and regulatory implications of technology and innovation. We have a dedicated team of lawyers who specialise in technology matters, covering areas such as data protection, cybersecurity, fintech, e-commerce, intellectual property, media and telecommunications, and digital transformation. We advise clients on a range of issues, from compliance and risk management to transactions and disputes, in the fast-changing and complex technology landscape.
Our Technology practice is one of the most established and respected practices in its field in the Asia Pacific region. With clients originating from all sectors and industries, ranging from state governments and statutory boards to multinational corporations, we have been involved in many large and complex IT, data, privacy, telecommunications, media and cybersecurity projects.
The partners in this practice are highly specialised in this area and lead the market with their expertise, ingenuity and problem solving acuity. They have a penchant for conceptualising new legal services in this area, which have proven to be of immense value to organisations as they navigate the digital economy.
We also work closely with legal tech specialists at Rajah & Tann Technologies to innovate solutions for our clients. Rajah & Tann Technologies is a subsidiary of Rajah & Tann Asia that focuses on delivering cutting-edge legal tech solutions to clients. By combining our legal expertise with the technical know-how of Rajah & Tann Technologies, we are able to provide our clients with comprehensive and innovative solutions to their legal and business challenges in the technology sector.
Featured insights
Technology M&A 2022 – Singapore Chapter
Rajah & Tann Singapore contributed to the Singapore chapter of the inaugural edition of the Chambers Global Practice Guide: Technology M&A 2022 published by Chambers and Partners. The Singapore chapter, which covers key market trends, early-stage and venture capital financing, liquidity events, spin-offs, acquisitions of public technology companies and business critical regulatory requirements.
Data Protection & Cybersecurity
Our market leading tech-savvy practitioners provide the full spectrum of data protection / cybersecurity related services such as:
a) Privacy & data protection advisory including assisting organisations to comply with local data protection law requirements;
b) Data protection law compliance audit and consultancy;
c) Outsourced data protection officer;
d) One-stop shop legal and technical data protection compliance;
e) Cybersecurity;
f) 24×7 365 days a year standby incident response, both legal and technical forensics;
g) Data Breach/Incident response, both legal and technical forensics;
h) Assistance in investigations by the Personal Data Protection Commission;
i) Data breach simulation exercise;
j) Training
k) Data licensing and commercialisation;
l) Protection of confidential information.
We have been a first for many data protection related services such as being the first to conceptualise and launch externalised data protection officer services, being the first to launch a one stop shop combined legal and technical data protection and cybersecurity service, being the first to launch a 24×7 365 days a year standby incident response service, etc.
We have created a one stop shop legal and technical ecosystem to assist clients to navigate the digital economy through Rajah & Tann Technologies (RTTech) and Rajah & Tann Cybersecurity (RTCyber). Through RTTech, we provide valuable products and services to organisations to assist them in their handling or commercialisation of data as part of their business. Through RTCyber, we have created a one stop shop pairing of legal and technical services to provide seamless cybersecurity and data protection solutions to clients. These services are exactly what organisations need in this digital economy.
Financial Technology (FinTech)
Combining the deep knowledge of our financial regulatory and technology expertise, we provide innovative legal solutions that are tailored to the needs of every stakeholder in the FinTech sector; these include financial institutions, FinTech startups, venture capitalists and private equity firms and technology companies, among others. Areas of focus include assisting clients on navigating the licensing and regulatory landscape, application of new FinTech SOP processes, conducting due diligence on new startups, assisting in building bridges with traditional banks’ FinTech labs as well as facilitating and preparing for presentations and meetings with regulators to access funding and product showcase.
Information Technology Procurement
Since the start of the dot-com era, we’ve been extensively involved in this field. Our broad experience and in-depth knowledge has enabled us to help numerous state level IT major organisations in Malaysia and Indonesia in drafting and negotiating complex IT procurement contracts based on shared services, outsourcing and PPP models. We have also been setting the benchmark as pioneer draftsmen for various cloud computing contract structures both from a vendor and a consumer perspective in the Asia Pacific region.
We travel far and wide to manage projects of this nature, having been involved in various transnational deals with countries including Kazakhstan, Australia, USA, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the People’s Republic of China, New Zealand, Canada, UK and Nigeria.
Information Technology Regulatory
As one of the region’s most experienced teams in this complex and dynamic area, we have been engaged by numerous state level IT regulatory bodies. For example, we have recently been asked by the World Bank to draft the IT legislation for Mongolia. And the same client has also chosen us to lead an electronic commerce legislative benchmarking exercise involving over 20 East Asian and Pacific nations.
Other major international projects include drafting the ICT legislation for the Kingdom of Lesotho in Africa, and working with the World Bank and the UNDP to draft new ICT laws and regulatory policies for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and ICT mandates in Brunei Darussalam and Bangladesh.
We were engaged by the Commonwealth Secretariat in 2008 and 2009 to co-lead an e-government capacity building exercise involving all Caribbean community member nations. Our lawyers have also served on various Singapore government committees to advise on IT regulatory policies in Singapore.
Digital Media – Procurement and Regulatory
We have been involved in major content licensing and digital media matters. We assist our clients in content procurement matters such as in the drafting and negotiating of content license and distribution agreements. We further assist in submitting representation to the Media Development Authority in Singapore and other regional media regulators on behalf of our media clients pertaining to securing the necessary statutory right to broadcast, license or distribute all forms of media both film based and digital in the Asia Pacific region.
E-commerce
We assist organisations in handling the legal challenges of launching or operating their e-commerce platforms and offerings, including advising and providing appropriate terms and conditions, privacy policy, navigating issues related to intellectual property, content, consumer protection, data protection.
With RTCyber, we are able to provide technical security assistance to organisations in ensuring that the security posture of their e-commerce platforms is adequate to ensure the protection of their customer data and compliant with the security requirements of local data protection law.
Related Links
Recognition
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Innovative Lawyers in Cyber Security & Data Governance AwardFinancial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards Asia-Pacific (2023)
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Top 100 Data Practices WorldwideGlobal Data Review 100 (2023)
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Band 1 - TMT (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore)Chambers Asia-Pacific (2024)
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Tier 1 - TMT (Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam)The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2024)
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Tier 1 - IT, Telecoms and Fintech (Indonesia)The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2024)
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Outstanding - Technology and Telecommunications (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore)Asialaw Profiles (2024)
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Band 2 - Fintech Legal (Singapore)Chambers Fintech (2024)
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"Rajah & Tann [Singapore] has always been a cutting edge law firm when it comes to knowledge, technology, and the talents within the team. For TMT, it is probably one of the top in Singapore."Chambers Asia-Pacific (2024) (Singapore)
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"Assegaf Hazmah & Partners is thorough and efficient in their research, and their opinions are straightforward, legally sound and timely delivered.”The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2024) (Indonesia)
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"Rajah & Tann Singapore fields a team with seasoned lawyers who are well placed to provide expertise on telecoms and technology regulatory matters as well as licensing, data protection and data centre projects. Acts for an impressive roster of high-end domestic and multinational social media, electronics and telecoms companies."Chambers Asia-Pacific (2022) (Singapore)
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"...has a notable TMT practice that is frequently engaged by leading global and Thai clients in the technology and telecommunications sectors"Chambers Asia-Pacific (2024) (Thailand)
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"Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers is a full-service law firm in Vietnam with significant experience assisting clients with regulatory issues such as technology licensing and agreements. The department is also experienced in handling e-commerce, data protection and cybersecurity matters, as well as telecoms and gaming regulations. "Chambers Asia-Pacific (2024) (Vietnam)
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"...services its stellar client roster on big-ticket technology and telecoms transactions, disputes, and regulatory mandates, with demonstrable experience advising on fintech and e-commerce developments"The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2024) (Singapore)
"Highly regarded outfit, well placed to provide expertise on telecoms and technology regulatory matters, as well as licensing, data protection, broadcasting and distribution issues."
Our Technology Team
