At Manchester Digital, we like to interview our members to find out a bit more about what they do and their work in the Greater Manchester digital and technology sphere. This week we're speaking with Laura Harper, Partner at Lewis Silkin LLP.
What does your organisation do?
We work with leading businesses to protect and enhance their most important assets — their ideas, their people. We call it: Ideas. People. Possibilities.
Our market-leading technology and digital team supports global innovation businesses to national and regional tech firms. Our award-winning employment team is one of the largest in the UK, with dedicated specialists in all areas of employment law and a track record of leading precedent setting cases on issues of the day.
Creativity, technology and innovation are at the heart of everything we do. It is reflected in the way we work, as well as in the types of businesses we work with. We help bring ideas to life by working alongside our clients as a trusted partner and bringing together leading commercial, corporate, employment, data and privacy, dispute resolution, immigration, intellectual property and real estate lawyers to help create, optimise, manage and protect ideas and business.
Whether you are a fast-growth start up or a large multinational business, we help you realise the potential in your business and people, and navigate your strategic legal issues, both nationally and internationally.
What do you think is currently the biggest issue facing the tech industry?
Harnessing AI – both from an operational and from a regulatory perspective as the variety, scope and ability of AI tools continue to grow, and as the regulatory framework changes around them.
In December 2023, Michelle Donelan (Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology) suggested that the UK Government would introduce AI legislation in the future (although it is unlikely to happen in this parliamentary Session) and the EU AI Act is moving closer to becoming law, so we are likely to see significant shifts in the AI regulatory framework in 2024 and beyond.
We are also likely to see further consultations based on the results of the Competition and Markets Authority’s updated review, the launch of the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum AI and Digital Hub, and the publication of the UK House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee's report on large-language models.
We are waiting to hear if the Intellectual Property Office has reached an agreement on a voluntary code of practice on copyright and AI.
From an employer perspective, as the industry looks towards utilising AI tools and analytics in the workplace, companies will need to manage tools responsibly to avoid regulatory and workplace challenges related to bias, discrimination, privacy, data protection, transparency, trust, and fairness.
What is your organisation’s biggest achievement?
We are proud of our culture which is distinct amongst other law firms and driven by our ethos of bravery and kindness.
We push ourselves to take on challenges, to try new things, to drive innovation and to be aspirational in everything we do. We commit whole-heartedly to what we do and trust each other to deliver on our commitments. We also support each other, our clients and our community and treat each other with fairness and respect.
We embrace diversity and are proud of fostering a culture that allows our people to able to bring our full selves to work. This has allowed us to attract and retain talented lawyers and maintain a low turnover rate, as well as being consistently recognised in independent ‘Best places to work’ surveys.
What would you consider to be your organisation’s biggest challenge?
Dealing with the rapidly changing world with new technologies, ideas and ways of working.
We relish this challenge and partner with our clients to come up with innovative solutions to help them realise opportunities and manage costs, including embracing new legal-tech where appropriate, such as AI tools and automated document production tools.
What do you think the future looks like for Manchester’s tech sector?
Manchester’s tech sector has benefited from increased investment and opportunities in recent years (seeing a 311% increase in investment between 2020 and 2022), including AI investment opportunities. We think this will continue - with the universities in Manchester producing AI graduates and driving AI innovation, government policies supporting the city’s tech and AI growth, the number of tech start-ups continuing to increase. The city is now home to over 10,000 tech companies.
There’s a shared future ambition of making Manchester a world class destination for emerging digital sectors. Manchester’s cultural partnerships, creative systems, lower cost of living and vibrant community will continue to promote the increased investment in and growth of its tech sector and enable tech firms to attract and retain skilled professionals. We’re witnessing the strategic transformation of Manchester’s business landscape, ensuring Manchester’s resilience in an ever-evolving digital future.
Tell us something that we might not know about your company?
Our firm’s name comes from the Labour MP Lewis Silkin who established our firm in the 1950s. Despite his poor upbringing, Silkin won a scholarship to Oxford University.
We are inspired by this story within our own history. This sits at the core of our culture and our values and drives our commitment to ensure that access to the legal profession is open and fair, and that the profession itself is diverse and socially inclusive.
Thank you Laura!
Learn more about Lewis Silkin here.
