Alex Craig - Partner and Head of the Commercial team at Muckle LLP
What is your role at Muckle?
I’m a commercial lawyer and head up the commercial team at Muckle. My role, and that of my team, essentially involves helping companies to effectively and compliantly trade. We do this in a variety of ways, including drafting contracts, exploiting their ideas, providing policies and reviewing their procedures. Whether a business is bricks and mortar or operates online, regardless of sector, we can help.
You also lead the digital and technology team. What does this team do and how does it differ to the commercial team?
The digital and technology team is cross-discipline; it is made up of colleagues from our commercial, disputes and corporate finance teams. This means we can offer a terrific depth of experience across many areas and can easily speak to colleagues across the departments. Several members of the digital and technology team have been at Muckle almost as long as me!
Our colleagues in dispute resolution tend to get involved when something has gone (or is going) wrong or if you need a strategic plan on how to get something back on track. For example, if someone is using a client’s intellectual property without permission, or if a client is suffering a ransomware attack or is the subject of an online misinformation campaign. Our colleagues in corporate work with digital and tech clients when they are acquiring a new business or seeking investment to facilitate growth.
You joined Muckle as a trainee in 1998. How has the world of technology changed over the years?
In 1998, most of the technological advances which are now out there hadn’t even been thought about. We were just starting to see the use of computers in the workplace, emails, the Internet and the adoption of computer software in the world of work. I can vividly remember starting work with a manual time recording sheet, a tape cassette dictation machine and absolutely no computer. A far cry from what we’re used to in the 21st century!
How did you first get involved with the legal side of technology?
I’ve always had an interest in technology, but my career has, in effect, grown alongside the development of technology in the .com boom and subsequent crash. I actually first specialised in intellectual property law in the early 2000s. As you can imagine, intellectual property law has developed alongside technology and data to become an increasingly important element of technology. This synergy between IP, tech and data has meant that my legal work has shifted and changed, which is what has kept it interesting.
Going back to the present day…what are the most common issues you deal with?
These days it is mainly data protection. It could be a subject access request, a complicated controller/ processor agreement, or a data-sharing agreement on a project. We might be assisting on a project to use AI in a particular way or to embed a new product into an organisation and support the risk assessment around that. It varies hugely and is really interesting, especially when that area of law and guidance is changing so rapidly.
Who are you working with at the moment?
We work in a wide variety of sectors, such as technology, sports, education, leisure, construction, property, entertainment, manufacturing and the public sector. Our clients include European operators such as Biscuit International, sports organisations like parkrun, local organisations like The Alnwick Gardens Trust, and public sector organisations like the Tees Valley Combined Authority. No matter the size of the business, they all need commercial support in some shape or form.
What is your proudest business achievement?
It’s always nice to be personally recognised for the work you do, but I’m most proud of the recognition that the team has received over the years. Most recently, we won ‘Law Firm of the Year for tech, media and telecoms’ at the Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards. Considering that we were up against firms from across the Northern regions, this is a hugely impressive achievement and a real testament to the team’s knowledge and hard work.
Lastly, which part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?
I’d probably say it’s helping entrepreneurs, start-ups and scaling businesses at the start of their business journey or when things are really starting to escalate. It’s so rewarding to see a start-up grow and know that you’ve played a small part in that growth.
To find out more about how Muckle can support your business, contact Alex using alex.craig@muckle-llp.com or 0191 211 7911.