Technology

Technology is critical in business. Whether it's about the largest and fastest-growing companies having technology at the core of their business model, financial institutions developing new ways to commercialise their services or industrials relying heavily on technology for their products––technology is top of mind.

Successful companies invest substantially in research and development or have a clear M&A strategy for accelerated growth.

Houthoff's Technology Team consists of many lawyers with a strong focus and in-depth knowledge of the technology aspects of your business. Our Technology specialists understand the opportunities and risks when dealing with joint ventures, IP and technology agreements, tech-driven M&A, privacy and data protection, fintech, ecommerce law, competition law or litigation.

“Houthoff is a very agile and knowledgeable firm with a team of very intelligent and analytical lawyers, the experience of the firm with high-end litigation makes cooperation with the firm very pleasant and efficient.”

Chambers Europe, TMT: IT & IT Outsourcing (2021 Edition)
Recommended

Legal 500, Telecoms (2021 Edition)
Recommended

Legal 500, Data privacy and data protection (2021 Edition)
Recommended

Legal 500, Media and Entertainment (2021 Edition)
“Clients approve of the quality of the services provided and appreciate the team’s ‘client-focused and commercial’ attitude.”

Chambers Europe, TMT: IT & IT Outsourcing (2020 Edition)
“Key strengths are their business-minded focus and practicality.”

Legal 500, Media and Entertainment (2020 Edition)
Recommended

Legal 500, Telecoms (2020 Edition)
“This practice is unique in their friendly and practical approach. They give good, quick and workable advice. The firm is also very easily accessible.”

Legal 500, IT (2020 Edition)
“Sources say the firm’s offering is ‘excellent’ and entails a ‘high-level service.’”

Chambers Europe, TMT: Data Protection (2019 Edition)
“The lawyers have a thorough and deep understanding of the law combined with a hands-on and service-oriented approach.”

Chambers Europe, TMT: Data Protection (2019 Edition)
“The practice at Houthoff is highlighted for ‘its personal approach’ and for collaborating with various specialists within the firm.”

Legal 500, IT (2019 Edition)
Recommended

Legal 500, Media and Entertainment (2019 Edition)
Recommended

Legal 500, Telecoms (2019 Edition)
First Tier firm

Legal 500, IT (2019 Edition)
First Tier firm

Legal 500, IT (2018 Edition)
"The ‘proactive, business-oriented’ team at Houthoff is ‘very knowledgeable on all aspects of IT’."

Legal 500, IT (2018 Edition)
"One client remarks on how well the IT and data team integrate with their business, describing the lawyers as 'open and accessible' and adding: 'They are like an extension of my colleagues'."

Chambers Europe, TMT: Data Protection (2018 Edition)
"The team is very knowledgeable and responsive, and we rely heavily on their expertise for many projects. If one lawyer is unavailable, there are others who will step in so that projects continue seamlessly."

Chambers Europe, TMT: Data Protection (2018 Edition)
Recommended

Legal 500, Telecoms (2018 Edition)
"Houthoff’s practice is particularly strong in corporate work and litigation."

Legal 500, Media and Entertainment (2018 Edition)

OUR EXPERTISE IN THE TECHNOLOGY SECTOR

Our Technology Team works for a wide variety of technology companies, including online platforms, semiconductor companies, automotive companies, software developers, fintech companies, cloud service providers.

Our expertise includes assisting technology companies with strategic M&A projects and IPOs, and negotiating strategic partnerships and joint ventures. We specialise in ecommerce platforms, consumer protection and privacy matters, and telecom projects. Our team is also adept at structuring and negotiating outsourcing projects, drafting and negotiating complex IP and technology licensing agreements, and conducting IP litigation.

Houthoff has an unrivaled track record as a legal adviser within the technology sector. As a member of the TechLaw Group, a leading international network of law firms in more than 48 countries, we can assist our clients and provide the highest quality service anywhere in the world.

Highlighted Matters

Advised NVIDIA, one of the largest chip manufacturers in the world, in the acquisition of Bright Computing.
Highlighted Matters

Represented Ola Cabs in data access request proceedings before the Amsterdam District Court. This was the first judgment by an EU court on data portability.
Highlighted Matters

Represented RDW (Dutch Vehicle Licence Authority) before the Dutch DPA and administrative courts in defence of complaints raised by a group of data subjects.
Highlighted Matters

Advised Marktplaats, a classified advertising site based in the Netherlands, on preliminary relief proceedings brought by a professional advertiser who was blocked from the platform.
Highlighted Matters

Advising Thoma Bravo, a leading software investment firm, on its acquisition of Talend, a leader in data integration and data integrity and Nasdaq listed, by means of a cash tender offer at approximately USD 2.4 billion.
Highlighted Matters

Advised Siemens with its acquisition of Sqills, a leading provider in the provision of cloud-based inventory management, reservation, and ticketing software to public transport operators around the world. The agreed purchase price is EUR 550 million plus an earn out.
Highlighted Matters

Represented Xebia, a portfolio company of Waterland Private Equity, in connection with the acquisition of Oblivion Cloud Control.
Highlighted Matters

Advised Veritas Capital, in cooperation with Skadden, on possible objections under the Economy and National Security Bill regarding its USD 3 billion acquisition of Cubic, a producer of C4ISR software for the US Army.
Highlighted Matters

Houthoff assisted Vermeg, Vermeg's founder and its management team in Charterhouse's acquisition of an interest in Vermeg from Crédit Mutuel Arkéa.
Highlighted Matters

Advised Siemens with its acquisition of Culgi. Culgi provides expertise and develops software solutions for multiscale chemistry simulation, from quantum chemistry to molecular dynamics.
Highlighted Matters

Houthoff assisted the shareholders of The Datacenter Group Nederland Holding B.V. (TDCG) with the sale of a majority stake in TDCG to investment institution DWS.
Highlighted Matters

Advised Hexaware Technologies Ltd on the acquisition of Mobiquity Inc. Mobiquity provides digital consulting services for the world’s leading brands, such as Amazon Web Services, Rabobank, Philips, Wawa, Backbase and Otsuka. Houthoff worked jointly with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP on this transaction.
Highlighted Matters

Advised, together with Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Tele2 AB in connection with the exit from its joint venture with Kazakhtelecom. The net proceeds to Tele2, after deducting the existing earn-out liability, will be USD 169 million.
Highlighted Matters

Advised Hearst with the purchase of The History Channel Iberia from its A+E Networks joint-venture partner Disney. The History Channel Iberia operates Historia, Blaze and Crimen+Investigación, which are distributed in Spain, Portugal, Angola and Mozambique.
Highlighted Matters

Advised Telia Company, together with Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, in connection with the divestment of its holding in Kcell and the dissolution of its Fintur partnership with Turkcell. Telia Company and Fintur Holdings B.V., which is jointly owned by Telia Company and Turkcell, have agreed to sell their 75% stake in the leading Kazakhstani telecommunications operator Kcell JSC to the telecom operator Kazakhtelecom JSC for USD 446 million. Telia Company has also signed an agreement to acquire Turkcell's 41.45% stake in Fintur, which will make it Fintur's sole shareholder.
Highlighted Matters

Houthoff represented The Datacenter Group in the acquisition of two data centers from Rabo Bouwfonds Communication Infrastructure Fund and the refinancing of The Datacenter Group.
Highlighted Matters

Houthoff represented Ease2pay in its acquisition of the business of MyOrder, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the major Dutch bank Rabobank. The acquisition combines the mobile fueling- and parking solutions of both companies, resulting in a combined network of over 600 fueling stations and 116 cities where customers can pay with one mobile app for their fuel and street parking.
Highlighted Matters

Houthoff represented the shareholders of Plaxinvest B.V. on the sale of their interest in Plaxinvest B.V. to Bentley Systems, Inc. Plaxinvest is the parent company of the Plaxis Group, the leading provider of geotechnical software. This strategic acquisition by Bentley, leading global provider of comprehensive software solutions for advancing infrastructure, serves to make Bentley a complete source for geotechnical professionals.
Highlighted Matters

Houthoff advises Tofane Global on the acquisition of iBasis from KPN. This acquisition is the first milestone in the intended strategy of the Paris-based company. By means of acquisitions and digital transitions, Tofane Global aims to become the market leader in worldwide telephone services. After the completion of the acquisition, Tofane Global and iBasis will continue to work with KPN as strategic partners.
Highlighted Matters

Advised together with Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Telia Company in connection with the divestment of its holding in Azertel. Fintur Holdings B.V., jointly owned by Telia Company and Turkcell, has agreed to sell its 51.3% holding in Azertel, sole shareholder of the Azeri telecommunications operator Azercell, to Azintelecom, a company wholly owned by the Republic of Azerbaijan. The agreed price for Fintur’s 51.3 percent in Azertel is EUR 222 million.