IT Contracts - 2026 Virtual Conference

Introduction

Chaired by Richard Stephens of the Law Office, this virtual conference brings together leading practitioners to examine how rapid developments in cloud services, AI driven technologies and digital transformation are reshaping the drafting and negotiation of IT contracts.

This conference takes you on a practical journey through modern IT contracts. Learn to identify key risks in cloud agreements, build effective playbooks, negotiate strategically and future-proof your contracts for AI-driven technologies. By the end, you will have a cohesive toolkit to draft, negotiate and manage IT contracts with confidence.

Conference Agenda

This live and interactive 4-hour conference will cover the following:

10:30am-11:30am: Key Provisions in Cloud Contracts: Drafting for Risk & Resilience

Richard Stephens, The Law Office

Cloud contracts that come out from lawyers tend to veer between two extremes: either they are overly long and prescriptive being based on an outsourcing model, or they are simple services contracts that fail to address some of the important features of a Cloud contract.

True it is that the basis for a Cloud contract is a normal services contract, but there are some features that parties should review carefully before signing off, such as:

• Scope or description of the service
• Support and SLA - ‘Availability’, ‘Resolution’, ‘Force Majeure’, ‘Sev 1’
• Licensing - just who gets to use the service?
• Liabilities - the birth of the ‘Supercap’
• Changes and onward development - ‘Releases’ vs. ‘Versions’
• Termination - death of the asset register?

Out of this, delegates should find out about the key flashpoints in negotiations for a Cloud contract as well as some suggested positions and fallbacks for the parties.

Morning Break

11:40am-12:40pm: Stop Negotiating from Scratch: How to Build an IT Contract Playbook That Actually Gets Used

Electra Japonas, Chief Product Officer @ SimpleDocs, Founder @ oneNDA

Most IT contract negotiations take longer than necessary, not because the issues are complex, but because positions are being invented on the spot, every time. A well-built playbook changes that: it captures pre-agreed positions, fallbacks, and escalation triggers so that legal and commercial teams can move faster and more consistently.

This session walks through how to build one that works in practice, not just on paper, and explores how data increasingly makes those positions defensible when challenged.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand what a useful IT contract playbook actually contains - and what most playbooks get wrong
• Learn how to define positions, fallbacks and escalation paths for the clauses that cause the most friction in IT negotiations
• Understand how contract data can validate and strengthen your playbook positions - reducing internal debate and building confidence at the negotiating table

Break for lunch

1:40pm-2:40pm: Key Negotiation Topics in Technology Services Contracts

Kit Burden, Partner, DLA Piper UK LLP

There are many different kinds of services contracts in the technology space, ranging from those for cloud based ‘as a service’ delivery through to major outsourcing transactions. All have their own nuances but there will often be particular ‘hot topics’ that will provide a focus for negotiations in relation to them.

This session will examine such issues from both a supplier and customer perspective, explaining the nature of their concerns and the kinds of drafting that they might then propose, as well as then considering the potential compromise positions that might be adopted as a result of the negotiation process.

Learning Outcomes:

• Identification of the key areas of concern in technology related contracts
• Understanding of the drivers of each of the parties involved in the negotiation of them
• Learning of potential negotiation approaches and compromise options in line with wider market practice

Afternoon break

2:55-3:55pm: AI Clauses in IT Contracts - Are Your Agreements Future Proof?

Jimmy Desai, Keystone Law

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in IT services, cloud platforms, and business software, many standard contract clauses are no longer fit for purpose. This session explores where traditional IT contract wording falls short when applied to AI-driven systems - particularly around warranties, data use, and risk allocation. Using practical examples, Jimmy Desai will highlight the key contractual gaps and offer guidance on how to future-proof your agreements in light of these evolving technologies.

This session will help show you why many IT contracts miss the mark on AI.

Examples of why some IT contract precedents fall short:

• Old Clause: ‘Supplier warrants that the software will perform in accordance with its specification.’ / Problem: Doesn’t specifically address AI that learns, changes, or makes probabilistic decisions
• Old Clause: ‘Customer data may be used to improve the service.’ / Problem: No limits on training AI models with sensitive data which could lead to GDPR and IP risks

By attending, you will:

• Identify where many traditional IT contract precedents fail to address AI risks
• Understand the essential elements of AI-ready clauses around data, liability, and compliance
• Apply these insights to strengthen your own contracts and future-proof your agreements

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.