Rob Cobley

Rob has over fifteen years’ experience advising a wide range of businesses, mainly in private practice, since qualifying as a solicitor in 2006.

Having originally worked for an IBM spin-out software development house, Rob has particular experience of working with innovative technology businesses, from crowdfunded start-ups to large multi-nationals. He has worked in-house for two ISPs and a leading international tech media company.

From early on in my career I’ve been advising businesses developing and working with emerging and innovative technologies where the legal, commercial and technical landscape is often new, uncertain and continually evolving.

‘As a commercial lawyer you have to be perceptive, to pro-actively ask the right questions and quickly understand what matters most to your client and what’s driving their decision making. We should be solution-driven problem-solvers, an extension to our clients’ teams, supporting growth, and genuinely adding value – and that’s what makes my job so interesting.

Rob’s work ranges from business-critical system turnkey deals, systems integration agreements and outsourcing, through to bespoke development and licensing contracts (including mobile application, gaming and platform contracts), cloud computing, SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS contracts. He also advises on complex issues around data protection and information security.

With a strong background in transactional IP, Rob has worked extensively advising clients on protecting and licensing their innovative technology and the complex commercial agreements relating to their use. 

Working with innovative businesses in particular requires you to be as agile as your client, helping to balance the legal and commercial risk in any given, sometimes unexpected, challenging moment or strategic opportunity.

‘The Harper James ‘disruptive model’ allows me and my years of experience to be accessible to clients, to collaborate with them and to cultivate productive and successful relationships. It also enables me to be there to support clients large and small on their journeys, delivering value at a price that makes sense. Every day brings something new and that’s something special for me.

His particular interest in emerging technologies means that he has advised on working with and developing wearable tech, health tech, consumer tech, with AR, VR, AI and IoT technologies as well as digital infrastructure and digital commerce.