Company Profile
Fieldfisher is a leading law firm with 28 offices across the UK, EU, China and the US, and market-leading practices in space, technology, and defence.
Our integrated cross-practice Space and Defence team has the breadth and depth of experience required to support businesses with the unique challenges and opportunities in this sector.
Our cross-practice industry-focused team has supported space and defence clients for over 30 years, including time spent in industry, giving us a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities. We understand the nuances and the bigger picture, allowing us to deliver advice which is both legally sound and operationally useful.
We support across the entire industry value chain – from investors to cutting-edge start-ups, regulators and Government procurement, global aerospace and defence manufacturers, satellite and launch operators, and all areas of the critical supporting infrastructure. With our experience working on all sides of the table, we help our clients efficiently navigate the complexity and compliance burdens of the space and defence industry.
Working across our 28 international offices and our trusted global partners, we provide seamless, cross-border support and insights informed by a real-world understanding of the global commercial, geopolitical and regulatory landscape.
Our experience
- Advising various aerospace/defence clients on the full remit of sanctions and EU export control compliance, including dual-use classifications for new and cutting-edge technologies with applications both on Earth and in Orbit
- Supporting a multitude of defence hardware and software suppliers on international compliance programmes, including in the context of UK Ministry of Defence contracting and leveraging public procurement opportunities
- Acting for the financing banks on the procurement and financing of the first satellite for an emerging markets government, including the satellite construction/launch agreement and orbital slot usage
- Advising on securing NSIA clearance across a range of sensitive targets, including a two-year process requiring sensitive and strategic navigation of evolving national security risk issues and deal complexities, which resulted in successful clearance
- Advising a consortium of defence, technology and science companies on a consortium arrangement and successful tender for the supply of mobile chemical warfare detection systems
- Supporting clients across multiple drone-sector workstreams, including investment for emerging companies. This includes recently advising a rapidly scaling provider of fully automated drone services on UK, European and US expansion
- Advising European unicorn ICEYE on its strategic programme with Bayanat to broaden opportunities across the UAE space-ecosystem
- Providing strategic intellectual property advice to various industry clients to protect critical business IP in complex hardware, software, data, and emerging dual-use technologies
- Supporting a launch services company with multiple complex international workstreams covering launch infrastructure, manufacturing and supply chain strategy, export control, and M&A and investment activities, each with a sensitive defence angle
- Supporting with investment and M&A activities in the space and defence industry