A new global structure for a technology consultancy

We advised a leading technology consultancy in conjunction with PricewaterhouseCoopers on the restructuring and re-launch of its global business. The project involved a reorganisation of intellectual property rights as well changes to the global structure of the client’s business.

The intellectual property consisted trade marks, patents and know-how. The new structure included complex licensing arrangements. We tested the feasibility of the structure and helped create an innovative contractual framework to implement the new licensing structure.

At the same time, the client needed to regulate how its group companies would interact with each other in its new business model. We helped PricewaterhouseCoopers put together an operating structure, supported by detailed agreements legislating how employees move between countries, how referrals are made, how costs are shared around the world and how services are provided across the hundreds of group countries.

The project included an international feasibility study and drafting a series of agreements for use in 60 countries. This involved a lengthy exercise validating the agreements in every country and finding work-arounds to minimise local variations. We worked closely with tax advisers to ensure that the legal structures achieved the wider commercial and tax objectives.