Tech Transactions Conference 2026

Join SCL’s Technology Transactions Group on Wednesday 18 November for a half-day event exploring the latest developments in technology sourcing, delivery and contracting models.

Programme:
Session 1 – Digital Sovereignty and Sovereign Clouds 

• What is digital sovereignty?
• Limits to the sovereignty of sovereign cloud service offerings
• Key features of the EU’s proposed Cloud and AI Development Act
• Should we be concerned about cloud and AI kill switches?

Professor Christopher Millard, Professor of Privacy and Information Law and head of the Cloud Legal Project in the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London

Session 2 – Global service centre/captive models

• Introduction to Global Capability Centers (GCCs)
• Key options around the establishment of GCCs
• We will focus our session on the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, exploring:
  • the basic structure
  • the options for transfer
  • performance warranties and indemnities vs traditional outsourcing
  • financial arrangements
  • key risk issues
  • Pro’s and Con’s vs “as is” and outsourced models

Speakers:
Kit Burden, Partner and Co Chair of Global Technology Sector, DLA Piper
Nathan Evans, Partner, Birketts LLP

Session 3 – ‘As a service models’

• Gain a practical understanding of how SaaS solutions are designed and delivered, including cloud infrastructure, multi-tenancy models, APIs and integrations and data flows within SaaS platforms.
• Explore the technical concepts that most frequently drive contractual negotiations and risk allocation, with a focus on security, resilience, data management, and operational dependencies.
• Learn why SaaS services can fail in practice, examining security incidents, cloud outages, integration issues, and human error, and consider how these risks are addressed through commercial contracts and supplier governance.

Speakers to include:
Steve Holmes, Partner and EMEA head of commercial, technology and transactions, Baker McKenzie

Session 4 – Contracting for AI

• A practical scenario-based session based on a real-world AI vendor procurement
• Running through the key steps in the AI vendor diligence, review and negotiation process, using real vendor responses and terms
• Key issues including IP, liability, performance, data rights and accountability for AI outputs and actions
• Expert views from in-house specialists from the buy-side and supply-side of the AI ecosystem

Speakers:
Tom Sharpe, Partner – AI and Technology, Bristows
Hannah El Gazzar, Legal Counsel – Global Privacy, Technology and IP, Dentsu
Lally Wood, Technology Lawyer
Kathryn Morgans, Vice President – Global Commercial Legal, Smith+Nephew

Bringing together practitioners, in-house counsel and industry representatives, this event will provide practical insights into how organisations are adapting their technology sourcing and contracting strategies in an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving landscape.