Al Mangan

My very impressive colleague Conor McLaughlin, has written about the Supreme Court's decision from last month in Emotional Perception AI Limited v Comptroller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, explaining how the decision changes how patent applications and granted patents relating to artificial neural networks, AI and computer implemented inventions are to be assessed going forward 🤖. All you need to know is in the link below. And if not, ask Conor McLaughlin! #Patentability #AIInventions #AnyHardware https://lnkd.in/eV5Rs3Pq

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Many UK law firms are still wasting some of their most skilled people on manual reporting and spreadsheet work that delivers little strategic value. In this conversation, Karl Southern and Graham Moore explore why the future of legal tech isn’t about replacing people, but freeing them to focus on the work that actually matters. The future of legal technology will be AI-led, but only firms putting the right foundations in place now will be ready to benefit later. 🎧 Tune in here and join! the conversation! ➡️ https://lnkd.in/erunM8eh

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The ICO's tech futures report on agentic AI, with early thoughts on the DP issues, is now available in PDF format. A summary from Marcus Evans and me is also available at https://lnkd.in/erewSHDA The ICO’s analysis is perhaps the most comprehensive regulatory commentary to date on this complex topic. The ICO has flagged the areas that will need attention when organisations are building and deploying agents, and given a flavour of the challenges that may arise depending on how agents are adopted. Detailed guidance on specific mitigations was, understandably, beyond the scope of the current report. And feel free to call us old-fashioned, but in case anyone is wondering, our summary is entirely human-generated!

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The learning never stops .... Two amazing AI conferences in 2 cities in 2 days. Just back from the Arthur Cox LLP Empowering In House Counsel Best Practices Session. The session was opened by Ailish Finnerty and Mairead Duncan-Jones. Dan Hunter stressed the importance of ensuring AI is implemented responsibly. He noted the jagged frontier of Al capability, highlighting the belief that as long as a problem is suitable for LLMs, eveyone will be better off PROVIDED people are trained how to use, edit and challenge. Aditionally, when looking to the issue of early adaptors against fast followers, he noted that in areas of flat growth, the fast follower could catch up. However, if dealing with an area of exponential growth, fast followers won't be able to make up the the difference. Aoife Mac Ardle noted the need to ensure that we look to the purpose / utility of the AI system prior to classifying it under legislation - is a HR AI tool, for example used to alphabetise candidates, or is it to attribute some kind of scoring mechanism. Colin Rooney mentioned the Black Box defence, noting that it may not necessarily hold up to regulatory scrutiny, and drew attention to the links between the AI and GDPR arenas. Ritika Wadhwa struck home the point that organisational culture is shaped by the worst behaviour the leader is willing to accept. The immense importance of cultural intelligence was emphasised - A diverse grouping WITH PROPER cultural intelligence is always going to outperform an homogeneous grouping. Without the cultural intelligence, the homogenous group will do better (but would the organisation as a whole, or indeed society - my emphasis). I'm extremely grateful to be able to work in an area of law that I love at Citi; and do so within an organisation that prides itself as a place where employees succeed together. I'm also grateful to have received book recommendations today: Dan Hunter suggested Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick, Generative AI in Legal Practice (free online) by Mitchell Adams, and How to think about AI - A Guide for the Perplexed by Richard Susskind Ritika Wadhwa suggested Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed. Grateful also to have had the opportunity to meet up with Alasdair C. - been too long. Final thanks must go to Anne Frain and the Events Team in Arthur Cox. Putting together such a successful event must be commended. In an area of law where we (the perplexed) could do with a guide, the hosting of todays Best Practices session is much appreciated. And .... I got back to the office in time to listen to the choirs from Belvedere Youth Club and Citi, as well as witness the Christmas tree lights be turned on. Happiest of Happy Holidays Folks Mind yourselves and eachother. Kev

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In continuation of my earlier work analysing the Getty Images v Stability AI proceedings, my latest article looks at the High Court’s judgment and the clarity it brings (and doesn’t bring) to the application of UK IP law to generative AI. I’ve also highlighted the practical implications this decision may have for rights holders, AI developers and businesses navigating this rapidly evolving space. #AIregulation #LegalUpdate

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Counsel Knowledge Lawyer Penny Thornton has been featured in World Trademark Review (WTR), providing an in-depth review of the UK government’s proposals to limit copyright protection for functional designs, in the UK IPO consultation on designs, which closes on 27 November. Read the article (WTR subscription) here: https://lnkd.in/enwF_Vzr

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🚨 In-house contract lawyers - are you reviewing contracts for AI-readiness? What about agentic AI? This article is a must read

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As a non-UK resident establishing a company in the UK, safeguarding your intellectual property (IP) is paramount. 🛡️ Protect your innovative ideas and creations with IP rights. #IPProtection #Innovation #IntellectualProperty #UKBusiness

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🚨The UK has the potential to lead in digital finance, but #regulation needs to support #innovation. Evidence to the House of Lords highlights how the current Bank of England and FCA #stablecoin proposals could discourage #investment in UK stablecoin services. Finding the right balance between stability, consumer protection, and innovation will be key.

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📢 ECCTA and pre-budget deals 📢 ⏳ When you’re fully focused on progressing multiple deals, it can be easy to categorise legal updates as ‘things to look at later’. 🔎 For lawyers advising on UK company transactions due to complete before the autumn Budget on 26 November, identity verification under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 is something that will need immediate attention. 📅 From 18 November, new directors will need to have their identity verified before being appointed to an existing company or on incorporation of a new company. This means that for any transactions involving a change of directors (or incorporation of a newco), individuals being appointed as directors will need their identity to be verified before completion. ✅ Closing deals can be dramatic enough; avoid any additional complications by getting identity verification for all incoming directors sorted as early as possible. This can be done prior to 18 November under the voluntary regime. #UKcompanies #ECCTA

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So much great content at the London Legal Market Conference. Hosted by A&O Shearman and moderated by Kevin Doolan Carrie Fletcher and Matthew Layton. Here are my top takeaways. 1️⃣A&O have an AI platform to use for merger control advice. Both the target and acquirer drop in relevant information that’s cross-checked against the A&O database to give regulatory advice. 2️⃣Shoosmiths ‘A Million Pounds for A Million Promopts’ Initiative saw a jump of 140000 prompts in a month. 3️⃣A consultancy firm has started adding a 7% tech levy onto its invoices 4️⃣ Anecdotal evidence suggests COVID trainees aren’t reaching the same levels as their pre-COVID peers 5️⃣The billable hour is dead. Long live the billable hour. 6️⃣GC’s rate law firms at 4.9/10 for sales. Their top request is for firms to be less ‘salesy’ and drop the ego.

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✨ Innovation in Conveyancing Takes Shape in Sheffield A new tech-driven law firm, LEXcelerate, has launched with support from Yorkshire AI Labs, aiming to modernise the conveyancing process through smart automation and real-time client tracking. Led by former Paul Firth of DLA Piper and co-founded by tech specialist Mark Hewitt, the venture is focused on improving speed, clarity and consistency for clients — taking inspiration from the streamlined model pioneered by Uber. A strong example of how technology is helping legal services evolve for the better. #LegalTech #AI #Innovation #FutureOfLaw https://lnkd.in/eQP-p9bh

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The July edition of Rahman Ravelli’s Crypto Tracker is now available – offering a roundup of the latest legal and regulatory developments in the crypto space. This month’s topics include: 🔹 New hope for crypto fraud victims 🔹 HMRC’s updated data-sharing rules 🔹 SEC drops its Binance lawsuit 🔹 FCA moves to safeguard stablecoin value 🔹 An Australian ruling at odds with the UK’s crypto classification 👉 Subscribe here to receive future editions: https://shorturl.at/uOC9q And read the full Tracker here 👉 https://shorturl.at/shxv3 #crypto #cryptocurrency #digitalassets #cryptolaw #rahmanravelli #financialcrime #regulation #hmrc #binance #stablecoins

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UK IPO launches SEP consultation The IPO has launched a consultation with the aim of ensuring the SEP ecosystem functions effectively and supports UK innovation, in the face of what it calls "systemic issues" around transparency and dispute resolution. SEPs are anticipated to be of growing importance to innovation and the economy, not only in established areas like telecoms but in emerging industries such as connected health and vehicles, and clean energy. It is in the latter that the increasing involvement of SMEs is recognised, along with the challenges faced in ensuring the SEP ecosystem works for them. Despite this, the consultation repeatedly references the need for balance, and recognises the importance of SEP holders being able to protect and enforce their rights and the role the UK courts have played on the global stage in dispute resolution in this area. This is a welcome tone. The consultation proposes a number of potential measures on which it is seeking views. 1. Rate Determination Track (RDT) There is a proposal to introduce an RDT to IPEC, sitting alongside the existing Small Claims and Multi Claims Track, to provide a simple and efficient route to determine a licence rate. It is proposed the RDT be limited to cases where infringement, validity and essentiality are not in dispute such that the disagreement is limited to the issue of the licence rate and other relevant terms. This looks to be a sensible approach that safeguards the rights and interests of both sides. A key detail on which views are sought is whether a single rate setting approach is adopted (e.g. comparables, or top-down cross check) or whether the RDT is empowered to apply different methodologies on a case-by-case basis. 2. Searchable SEP information It is proposed to introduce a search function for SEPs on the IPO's website, allowing users to search for standard related patents . It is unclear how the IPO would mandate patent owners to provide this information, nor how this measure would immediately solve the problem of distinguishing between patents that are declared essential and those that are "verified as truly essential". 3. Assessing need for a specialist SEP pre-action protocol The IPO wants to assess whether a specialised pre-action protocol in the Civil Procedure Rules would be more effective at reducing information asymmetry between patent holders and licensees than the existing general pre-action protocols in the CPR. 4. IPO essentiality service Views are sought on the value of the IPO introducing a service to determine essentiality. What is not mentioned at this stage is how such a service would interact with the courts, who at the moment are the arbiters of essentiality through their rulings on infringement. https://lnkd.in/enTb-tKr

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📈 Two of the UK’s fastest-growing legal tech startups, Definely (founded by two ex-Freshfields lawyers) and Wordsmith AI, have been selected for Future Fifty - the high-profile programme for tech scale-ups on the path to IPO or major expansion. The programme is widely seen as a springboard for international growth. Alumni include Revolut and Wise. Previous legal tech inductees include Juro and Lawhive, the AI-powered legal services marketplace that recently made headlines by acquiring a law firm in an industry first. https://lnkd.in/e8vzVBxx

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This is important information for leaseholders who are directors and/or PSCs of their freehold companies. Often responsibilities to Companies House are overlooked and they are important - fortunately the transition phase for current directors and PSCs will be 12 months so there will be plenty of time to ensure compliance.

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This is an outstanding piece of work from our Energy sector specialists led by Gareth Baker that brings together investment in battery energy storage by pension funds, asset managers and the National Wealth Fund.

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https://lnkd.in/eeMViVXa 🤖 Buying new technology Steps to follow and mistakes to avoid when buying new technology for your law firm or legal practice team - Guidance from the Law Society

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Honestly, I think we’ve all been far too harsh on this partner. Charging £75 for mentoring is bold, yes, but in this economy it’s practically community service. Some people run marathons for charity; others monetise TikTok career advice. We all give back in our own way. But Rachel — if I may — you’ve missed a trick. Because for the low, low, introductory rate of £74.99 (VAT incl.), I’m offering you a bespoke, premium, artisan-crafted masterclass titled: “How Not To Accidentally Become a Legal Cheek Headline.” Module highlights include: - Brand Management for Lawyers — or, “If you’re going to charge juniors, at least pretend it’s a webinar.” - TikTok Risk Mitigation — a deep dive into why the algorithm is not your friend and will absolutely betray you to Legal Cheek for content. - Subtlety in Side Hustles — how to monetise without looking like you’re monetising. - Crisis Comms for When the Internet Finds You — includes a free template for the classic “My account was hacked” statement. - Advanced Privacy Settings — because making your account private after the story breaks is like locking the stable door after the horse has already done a podcast tour. And as a bonus, for the first 10 sign-ups, I’ll throw in a personalised script titled: “I Was Just Trying to Help the Next Generation, Actually.” Perfect for LinkedIn, TikTok, or whichever platform you next accidentally go viral on. Ken Doyle Consulting™ — where we are turning legal chaos into comic gold since approximately 20 minutes ago.

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