STEM is at the forefront of innovation and development in the UK. Our dedicated STEM group works with clients in the STEM sector to provide holistic advice and support for all their business needs by providing joined up legal advice.

Our team is comprised of experts from disciplines across BTO to ensure that clients receive pragmatic and commercial advice and to support our clients in achieving positive outcomes.

Our experts work together to seamlessly provide our clients with the legal advice they need. Our ability to adapt and collaborate with our clients in a beneficial and commercial way differentiates the BTO team from our competitors. We pride ourselves on being an integral part of our client’s team and helping our clients to achieve their goals.

Our team members have practical experience of the areas in which they advise and are regularly called upon not only for their legal expertise, but also their market knowledge.

Our expertise

Our team is highly regarded in the market, with impressive, repeat experience of delivering complex construction, property and infrastructure projects. We are adept at assembling expert, cross discipline teams to meet the needs of the particular project, in an ever evolving and fast paced market.

In depth practical experience across a wide range of sector markets, combined with standout technical expertise is what our clients need and what we deliver. Our lawyers are recognised specialists in construction and property issues. Our ability to be adaptable and assemble a team with all the necessary skills, who work well together and deliver effectively and promptly, with minimum fuss is one of our key differentiators.

Our Corporate Team provides well considered, commercial legal advice with precision and expertise. With experience in a wide variety of sectors, we apply our technical ability to our clients’ needs to provide bespoke and innovative advice on a wide range of corporate and commercial matters.

We provide specialist advice on all aspects of corporate and commercial law, including Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Governance, Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances, Commercial Contracts, Private Equity and Venture Capital.

Acting for a broad spectrum of clients, ranging from large international companies to start ups and owner managed businesses, with a particular expertise in advising SMEs in the Scottish Market, our clients’ goals are at the forefront of everything we do. We take time to understand their unique needs, providing personalised advice and support throughout the entire process with the aim of achieving those goals.

Many of our STEM clients are start-ups with highly-talented staff. However, this brings its own challenges, such as incentivising your people before you are making profit, and recruiting specialists from overseas.

We can help you navigate a wide range of employment issues, including advising on TUPE during any corporate transactions and the day-to-day handling of any employee issues.

Our team advises on the full spectrum of employment-related matters, which includes:

  • Employment contracts for STEM sector clients
    You may need specific clauses to protect your business such as; non-compete, intellectual property rights, restrictive covenants and data protection.
  • Employment policies to support your organisation
    Alongside the regular policies, STEM clients may need a particular focus on data protection, and bring your own device to work policies.
  • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    For example, how to deal with people with disabilities and neurodiversity. We can help you make reasonable adjustments and support your employees.
  • Managing employees
    Whether it is flexible working, grievances, or restructuring and redundancy, we advise on how to keep your organisation legally compliant.

Our team provides specialist advice on the full spectrum of intellectual property, tech and data matters. We advise clients in a wide range of sectors including the creative industries, technology, media & entertainment, leisure & hospitality, food & drink, manufacturing and charities and the third sector.

Our areas of expertise includes registration, protection and commercialisation of IP rights (including trade marks, patents, designs, copyright, confidential information and trade secrets), drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, terms & conditions and licences, clearance and advisory work, protection of confidential information and trade secrets, software development and licensing agreements, cyber incidents, data protection compliance, management of data incidents and freedom of information requests and compliance.

Why BTO?

STEM is a broad and diverse sector with a range of legal needs. We service all of those requirements in one team. Our STEM team spans multiple service areas from IP and tech to employment, corporate, construction and infrastructure. Our team works on STEM issues day-in day-out, and we operate seamlessly together to give you integrated advice.

Our lawyers are actively involved in STEM initiatives, both in and out of the office. Our team is actively involved at board and director level with STEM organisations and initiatives and our lawyers have practical experience of this sector and its needs.

Our STEM knowledge isn’t simply theoretical. We see the legal implications of STEM on a practical level too.

Our lawyers understand the nuances of the STEM sector. We understand your language, and the rules and regulations that govern your sector. Our advice considers the commercial realities, as well as the legal issues.

STEM is a fast-paced sector, often with a number of critical deadlines. We don’t leave you waiting around for an answer. You will always be kept in the loop and provided with prompt and practical advice.

Who we work with

Our clients include:

  • Construction & Engineering firms
  • Food & drink companies
  • Healthcare and medical services companies
  • Manufacturers
  • Software developers
  • Start-ups and scale-ups
  • Tech & Communications companies
  • Universities

What people say...

STAY INFORMED