Digital & New Technologies

Constant technology developments are driving a global digital revolution that is fundamentally changing how we live and operate.

Organisations must be able to innovate and respond rapidly to changes brought about by new technologies including resulting changes to the competitive landscape, customer expectations and regulatory requirements. To do this successfully, organisations need integrated and comprehensive advice to help them navigate the business opportunities and legal risks.

Simpson Grierson is a leader in digital and technology matters. Our specialists help clients to develop and implement their strategies around the use of current and emerging technologies.

We work with clients in sectors which are at the leading-edge of digital disruption and digital innovation, including artificial intelligence, fintech, agritech, media and entertainment, healthtech, adtech, cloud, telecommunications and software development.

We have a long track record of helping clients to:

deliver major technology and telecommunications projects
ensure that their privacy and data protection practices and processes are legally robust
protect and exploit their intellectual property
manage social media use and reputational issues
implement e-commerce and payment systems
manage compliance risks relating to the use and exploitation of technologies.

We regularly advise our clients on the development and use of key emerging digital and technology opportunities and the challenges they present, including artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, data strategy, cyber security, blockchain, wearables and smart machines.

We are an active member of the New Zealand Tech Alliance, and its associations AI Forum, Agritech New Zealand, BlockchainNZ, Digital Identity New Zealand and FinTechNZ.

Work Highlights

Cubic Transportation Systems – National Ticketing Solution

We advised Cubic Transportation Systems on its partnership with Waka Kotahi to deliver a transformational project to develop a National Ticketing Solution for New Zealand’s public transport system.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

We advised on AWS’s expansion into New Zealand. This involved advising AWS on the various regulatory requirements in relation to its establishment of data centres in New Zealand, including telecommunications and privacy law compliance.

International technology companies

We regularly advise several prominent global technology brands on New Zealand aspects of the introduction of new and emerging technology products and services into the local market. This includes specialist input on a range of areas including privacy, telecommunications, content classification and regulation, intellectual property and media.

Recent examples of products, services and technologies that the team has advised on include drones, personal assistants, wearable technology products, digital identity and authentication, digital and online games and gambling, online streaming services, new social media functionality, and surveillance and monitoring products.

Public sector technology procurement

We routinely advise public sector agencies, including local authorities, on the procurement and implementation of transformational technology within their organisations, including software-as-a service, infrastructure-as-a-service, and other cloud-based applications and products. This often relates to core enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions that are critical to their ability to perform their statutory functions.