Electronic commerce

Global e-commerce sales are now in the hundreds of billions of dollars, and the ability to conduct business online, around the world, twenty-four hours a day creates enormous opportunities in virtually every industry. However, it also presents commercial and compliance challenges.

We have an expert, international practice, and help our clients on a daily basis to unlock and maximise those opportunities and overcome some of the most difficult commercial and legal challenges they face.

We work closely with our clients to help them structure, launch, grow and sustain successful online enterprises in this rapidly evolving, highly-competitive environment.

Our service

We help our clients across the board with their e-commerce businesses, operations and requirements, including the structuring, development, procurement and operation of e-commerce platforms, as well as with international e-commerce roll-out strategies and cross-border e-commerce, consumer protection and e-privacy regulatory compliance.

Our clients include:

• online and 'bricks-and-mortar' retailers
• broadcasters and media and entertainment companies
• mobile and consumer device manufacturers
• internet service providers
• social media businesses
• software businesses
• advertising and digital media agencies and web analytics businesses
• computer and video games companies
• IT and computer hardware and services businesses
• telecommunications companies
• financial services businesses
• professional services businesses
• automobile companies and car rental businesses
• other major users of e-commerce platforms and infrastructure

Our experience

Highlights of our experience include advising:

• the US's leading online relationship site, on e-commerce, as well as on e-privacy, and on online advertising and promotions matters;
• a household-name Japanese computer games business on the e-commerce and financial services regulatory aspects of launching and issuing in Europe an online virtual currency for use on its website and in its multiplayer online games;
• high-profile video-on-demand ventures making online TV content available to consumers on a subscription, download-to-rent and download-to-own basis, across all aspects of their operations, including development of e-commerce platforms and associated technology procurement and software and systems development and licensing;
• multinational retailers on the roll-out and operation of international e-franchising / e-commerce offerings;
• the UK’s primary consumer protection regulatory authority on its ecommerce enforcement programme;
• a UK public service broadcaster on a global platform for online distribution of archive material;
• a well-known international high-performance sports car manufacturer on international online sales of its vehicles;
• a global entertainment company on e-commerce matters relating to its online games; and
• an online platform for the sale of vintage items ranging from wines, fine art and furniture to cars and bikes.