The Middle East continues to provide a rich source of growth in the technology space.

The need for better infrastructure, and a general desire to move towards knowledge-based economies, is resulting in increased public sector investment in technology. Private and public sector clients are seeking to modernize their existing systems, including by adopting world-leading technological solutions. International technology players continue to see the huge potential for business across the Iran.

Our TMT team services a client base that includes technology vendors, as well as a diverse range of private and public sector technology purchasers. Many of these clients are in the financial services sector, including banks, insurance companies and payment solution providers. Other clients can be broadly categorized as operating in the e-commerce space, ranging from modest on-line marketplace start-ups through to developers of significant 'game changing' technologies looking to expand into the region. Clients in the healthcare, education and hospitality sectors also feature, as do clients in general industrial manufacturing industries.

The team also works with a range of government sector entities on a broad variety of technology-related matters, including e-payment platforms, transport infrastructure solutions and data protection and information security related matters. Additionally, the team regularly provides specialist support to other teams within the firm, either in response to ad hoc queries or as an integral part of project teams working on significant commercial transactions.

Media & Entertainment

Broader considerations, such as an increased desire for local content, alternative means of content delivery, and growth in the regional sports and events sector, is resulting in swift development in the media sector. Specific cities in the region have become high-profile tourism and event destinations, and the diversity of potential filming locations across the region has also attracted international attention. Various countries are actively promoting their media production sectors to try to capitalize on this interest in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, there are still regional-specific considerations that service and content providers, and their customers, need to consider. Local sensitivities, and related regulations, can create a minefield for production companies, publishers/platform operators, advertisers and others involved in the broader media and events sector. On-the-ground legal support is essential.

Our TMT team services a variety of clients in the telecommunications sector, including telecommunications service providers, ISPs, network and infrastructure providers, equipment manufacturers, and clients with specialist interests in areas such as satellite services, telematics and data centres.

While occasionally advising incumbent operators, the team often advises clients with technologies that challenge traditional telecommunications services. Such clients need assistance to navigate the local regulatory regimes, and the relationships that the team has developed with the various telecommunications regulators in the region enable it to service such clients effectively. Additionally, the team regularly advises general corporate clients with everyday concerns that touch on the likes of telecommunications regulatory issues and telecommunications related commercial contracting.

Internet & E-Commerce

We act for technology suppliers and Iranian corporate customers on the procurement and distribution of major technology and e-commerce systems and services. We also advise start-ups, e-commerce projects and technology projects. We advise clients on software licenses, hardware procurement, service supply arrangements, copyright infringement, software and e-commerce development contracts, online services, data protection, and related regulatory issues. 

Clients rely on our deep sector experience–combined with our ability to integrate a team across practices and time zones–to anticipate and overcome their most complex legal challenges. Our team is multidisciplinary, with experience in technology transactions, intellectual property, M&A, strategic sourcing, data privacy, finance, capital markets, dispute resolution, regulatory, tax and employment, meaning that we are always able to bring together the most highly specialized team to execute your matters successfully and efficiently.

Information Technology law in The Iran

The Farama & Co IT law practice group of Blenheim is headed by Behdad Arian
The IT practice group has extensive experience and expertise in the field of advice on Iranian IT law, contract negotiations, and dispute resolution services for Iranian and international clients involved in the information technology.
Blenheim acts for a wide range of IT suppliers and customers (vendors, service providers and users) and has experience on both sides of a wide range of IT-transactions.

The IT attorneys of Blenheim have encountered most thinkable situations before, and are equipped to understand IT issues, able to provide practical legal solutions and able to suggest refinements of business models or transaction structures to prevent risks, reduce cost, increase revenue, or otherwise add value.

The IT lawyers of our Farama & Co have special expertise in Iran  law on:

    internet matters
    legal protection of secrets (software, interfaces, data bases, compilations)
    source code escrow
    domain names
    copyrights, patents and design (utility) patents
    web authoring
    unfair competition and misrepresentation
    joint ownership issues
    auditing intellectual property ownership for financing, mergers, divestitures
    commercialization of software
    software development & maintenance arrangements
    hardware & infrastructure acquisition and services and
    dispute resolution (negotiations, mediation, arbitration & litigation).

Please contact: Ms. Fartemeh Bagherzadeh