Reed Smith’s Adtech Dictionary for Lawyers and Privacy Practitioners decodes all the jargon (spanning industry as well as legal terms from the US, Europe and Asia) in one place to ensure you are on top of the latest in Adtech.

Digital marketing is evolving at a rapid pace with companies increasingly using new technologies to focus marketing campaigns, create consumer-relevant content, and reinforce consumer reach. Advertising technology is laden with complex regulatory and compliance issues around content and brand safety, data privacy legislation, data rights and ownership, and allocation of risk and responsibility when negotiating agreements. These issues raise real concerns that can affect the performance of advertising campaigns, as well as an advertiser’s bottom line.

Advertising technologies help corporations improve reach and target campaigns by leveraging data to understand consumer preferences and patterns, anticipate trends, customize product offerings, streamline communications and increase revenue. These activities generate vast amounts of consumer and individual data that needs to be stored, shared, processed, managed and deleted. There is increased scrutiny over the use of AdTech in light of recent regulatory intervention and industry shifts that have elevated these issues to board level.

Consumer confidence and safety concerns over personal data related to technologies and digital products increasingly result in investigations by regulatory authorities, consumer class and collective actions, and securities and derivatives litigation. Through our compliance and risk management counseling, we work with clients to minimize their risk of becoming the target of investigations. In addition, we have had great success assisting clients in resolving government inquiries and investigations before they become litigation. We also counsel on federal, US State, UK and EU privacy-related legislation and rulemakings, including self-regulatory efforts to develop and implement new standards and best practices.

Regulations protecting data privacy are continuing to evolve, as the amount of such information grows exponentially. Every company collects, stores and uses personal data, and it is critical that you act carefully to comply with the evolving, and often conflicting, laws, regulations and standards worldwide.

We offer the full spectrum of data protection, privacy and cyber security legal services with a truly global network to support you. We advise clients on the full life-cycle of data management and protection, from conception of a project or product, involving the collection of personal information, through its handling, disclosure, transfer and deletion.

New technologies bring increased connectivity and have transformed how you conduct business and interact with customers. Growth in this digital world requires innovative thinking and practical data and technology risk management.

The shift to data-driven and personalized medical care is revolutionizing the way that health care services are delivered. New technologies – whether they be wearable devices, telemedicine, real-time monitoring, patient-centric data interoperability, population health, outcome-driven care, data and analytics-driven care optimization, or behavior management – pose significant challenges and also offer real opportunities for the life sciences and health care industries.

The online landscape for buying and selling goods and services has irrevocably changed the e-commerce marketplace. Consumer products, fashion, beauty, food and beverage, healthcare, wellness and sporting, and financial services providers all need support across the full life cycle of the development and launch of their online platforms.

Our global, cross-disciplinary team advises clients on navigating the regulatory landscape and brings an in-depth understanding of consumer law issues within a technology context, including consumer rights, distance selling, consumer guarantees, implied and statutory warranties, unfair contract terms and pricing, payments, data privacy and cybersecurity, intellectual property, licensing, and competition law issues. We have advised on a variety of digital platforms, including the development of new e-commerce sites, marketplaces, and mobile apps.

Enterprise data risk management is a fundamental component of good corporate and information governance, and a key focus of regulators. Improving enterprise data risk management across a business can reduce its long-term operational costs, privacy and cyber security risks, data footprint, and litigation risks. At Reed Smith, our cross-disciplinary team can help you better understand the risks associated with your data and develop strategies and internal controls to improve data governance. Clients benefit from our practical and action-oriented advice, geared towards identifying and managing data assets, modernizing IT systems and establishing policies that protect your organization and its data.

Our lawyers collaborate with your team to evaluate industry-specific issues impacting your organization. We advise clients on all aspects of technology and data risk, including defensible disposal, legal/regulatory record retention and recordkeeping, data integrity, eDiscovery, privacy and cyber security, and data integration and separation related to acquisitions and divestitures.

Digital innovation is causing an unprecedented shift in financial services. Driven by technology, the process can be quite disruptive and is subject to increasing global regulation.

At Reed Smith, we recognize the complexity that the FinTech sector causes you and your business. Our market-leading experience within the financial industry, corporate transactions, capital markets, investment management and funds, information technology, intellectual property, privacy and data security sectors means we are uniquely positioned to provide our skills, services and advice for the FinTech sector.

Payments Technology (PayTech) has dramatically altered the traditional commerce marketplace, while industry stakeholders and regulators struggle to keep pace with ever-evolving digital advances. As you navigate the payments ecosystem, you need legal counsel with in-depth knowledge of the payments sector and its complex regulatory landscape. Our team of industry veterans has operated across the PayTech ecosystem since its inception, including as general counsel for leading global payments companies.

We work with PayTech clients of all sizes and types and across all sectors to help them remain agile in this changing terrain. We provide guidance on novel and complex issues impacting payments systems, including:

• Digital transformation and connected commerce
• Mobile payments, digital wallets, and tokenization
• Blockchain solutions and cryptocurrencies
• Payments facilitators and Payments-as-a-Service (PaaS)
• Prepaid, gift, white-labeled, co-branded, and virtual cards
• Federal and state regulatory, card network, PCI-DSS, and NACHA compliance
• Money transmitter registration and licensing issues
• BIN sponsorship, ISO/MSP/ISV processing, revenue sharing, and technology agreements
• Mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures
• Technology procurement and outsourcing
• Investigations, enforcement actions, and dispute resolution
• Outside general counsel services

For a tech company to attract additional capital, create liquidity for its investors, and optimize its valuation, you need a legal team that understands how to structure such transactions for tech-centric companies in this fast-moving sector. Our lawyers have deep deal-making experience, hard science technology training, and extraordinary knowledge of all aspects of tech-related mergers, acquisitions, and capital markets.

We work with tech companies on early- and late-stage funding rounds, corporate and investment structuring, acquisitions and divestitures, and stock listings on global markets and exchanges. We also advise private equity and venture capital funds on their tech-related investments. Our collaborative, international, and cross-disciplinary team provides critical legal acumen and real-time knowledge of market trends in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, banking, regulatory compliance, data management and privacy, intellectual property, antitrust and competition, tax, real estate, and employment. We represent many of the world’s largest providers, consumers, and investors in all of their technology and data needs, and we have led some of the industry’s largest deals.

When legal disputes are driven by sophisticated technology factors, you need counsel with the technical aptitude and understanding of complex data to provide a creative and strategic approach to resolving high-stakes and high-tech litigation. Our team members have technical backgrounds and degrees in electrical, computer, and mechanical engineering enabling a deep understanding of your business goals.

We represent leading national and international corporations in disputes involving a broad range of technologies related to the fabrication of semiconductors, smart energy meters, computer networking, medical imaging, telecommunications, IT systems, Java computing, software, e-commerce, fiber optics, data encryption, and medical devices. Our lawyers have deep industry experience and understand the unique data and technology issues that often arise within AdTech, FinTech, and Digital Health/MedTech.

We have lawyers “on the ground” in the most popular litigation venues; we have excellent relationships with local counsel; and we are familiar with the rules and procedures in these districts. We have obtained outright dismissals and have compelled such actions to individual arbitration. We have dealt with complicated issues and circumstances such as joint defense agreements, standard-setting cases, multi-district litigation, and motions to transfer and dismiss. Our work often coincides with responses to federal and state government investigations by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general (AGs), defending related individual suits and insurance recovery efforts on the client’s behalf.

Technology is rapidly evolving and has solidified its role as the cornerstone of most businesses. Regardless of industry, companies worldwide increasingly run on technology and its proprietary innovation, whether as an operational engine or to gain a key competitive advantage. 

Telecommunications and broadband data providers have a unique set of legal needs. You need a law firm prepared to support you with state, federal, and national regulatory compliance; rulemaking proceedings; enforcement actions; tech transactions; privacy matters; rights-of-way concerns; and a variety of other industry-specific legal and regulatory issues. We understand the distinct needs of the telecommunications and broadband data industry, and we are prepared to assist you.

Our leading global telecommunications team works with a wide range of clients, from the world’s largest telecommunications companies to new entrants to the field, offering pioneering communications services. We act on behalf of mobile, fixed, and satellite communications entities, operators, service providers, and technology providers. We also advise many of the leading names in the technology and media sectors, and regularly provide counsel on projects and issues that cut across these converging industries.

Our team includes attorneys with decades of in-house and outside counsel experience representing telecommunications and broadband data providers before state, federal, and national regulators, including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), UK’s Office of Communications (Ofcom), Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunication (BIPT), The Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes (ARCEP), The Federal Network Agency (BNA), and state public utility commissions. We can help you develop regulatory compliance plans; draft corporate policies, procedures, and consumer terms of service; and draft and negotiate provider-to-provider agreements.

We also have experience with essentiality declarations with European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ESTI) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and deep knowledge of their intellectual property rights policies.