Tom Thomas > Harper Macleod LLP > Edinburgh, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile

Harper Macleod LLP Offices

Harper Macleod LLP
CITYPOINT, 65 HAYMARKET TERRACE
EDINBURGH
EH12 5HD
United Kingdom
Visit website 0131 247 2500 0131 247 2501

Tom Thomas

Tom Thomas photo
0141 227 9320 [email protected]

Position

Partner

Tom specialises in intellectual property and technology related matters (including outsourcing) as well as mainstream corporate acquisitions, sales, structures, drafting and negotiating commercial arrangements, and agreements. Tom also has extensive experience within the renewable energy and sport sectors.

Tom is senior partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property & Technology practice and is listed in the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers. He was previously a member of the panel of independent experts appointed by Nominet UK, the UK level domain name authority, to adjudicate on domain name disputes.

His experience includes:

  • Acting for the Scottish Professional Football League (formerly the Scottish Premier League) in relation to its broadcast and sponsorship agreements since 1998 including recent agreements with Sky, BT Sport, the BBC, YouTube, BBC ALBA and overseas rights distributor MP & Silva. Advising Glasgow 2014 Ltd in relation to the host broadcast agreement for coverage of the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow; advising sportscotland and various sports governing bodies in relation to corporate and commercial matters.
  • Advising the Forestry and Land Scotland in relation to various wind and hydro renewable energy initiatives and their implementation.
  • Advising the Highlands and Islands Enterprise in relation to its £146million next generation broadband agreement with BT.
  • Advising various agencies and directorates of the Scottish Government in relation to commercial contracts and corporate matters
  • Advising a Scottish public body in relation to an outsourcing and shared IT services venture with several other Scottish public bodies.
  • Advising various community organisations in relation to renewable energy projects.
  • Advising Webhelp in relation to various outsourcing agreements to the mobile telecommunications and financial services sectors in the UK.

Tom is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in Intellectual Property Law.

Education

LLB (Hons)

Lawyer Rankings

Scotland > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms

Bringing ‘great knowledge and expertise’, Tom Thomas leads the Harper Macleod LLP team, which specialises in framework services agreements, digital infrastructure projects, and licensing software solutions. Based out of Glasgow, Thomas is an expert in high-value tech contract work and cybersecurity matters, while from Edinburgh, Scott Kerr routinely collaborates with internet-based service providers and Jamie Watt concentrates on data protection issues. In Glasgow, E-Ming Fong primarily focuses on IT disputes. Laura McCorquodale is also recommended.

Scotland > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media and entertainment

Featuring the ‘exceptionally knowledgeable’ Jamie Watt at the helm, the Harper Macleod LLP practice has extensive expertise in multi-jurisdictional contract breach and copyright infringement claims, in tandem with a deep specialism in data protection matters. The Edinburgh-based Watt is an expert in trade marks, patent law, and cybersecurity issues. In Glasgow, Tom Thomas routinely advises on film and television production and location agreements. Other key Glasgow-based figures include E-Ming Fong, who regularly handles IT and tech sector disputes.

Scotland > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport

(Leading partners)

Tom Thomas – Harper Macleod LLP

Boasting a broad commercial offering across the sports sector, ranging from employment to IP and data protection, the Harper Macleod LLP team is praised as ‘approachable’ and ‘responsive’ by the national governing bodies and sports clubs it represents. The practice’s expertise covers the contentious arena, frequently advising on unlawful discrimination, defamation, and financial breach claims. The ‘hugely impressive’ Glasgow-based head Bruce Caldow has considerable experience of handling matters in the football, rugby, and golf spaces; Lorne Crerar stands out for his work in sporting discipline issues; and Tom Thomas specialises in broadcasting and IP rights affairs. Carolyn Morgan primarily focuses on property-related disputes in a sports context, while both David Kerr and Edinburgh-based Jamie Watt concentrate on complex sponsorship agreement topics.

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