Why use us?
In a nutshell…
Alex, thanks for the draft, that’s great and skilfully covers all the points we raised yesterday.
Barry Campbell
7Hz Recordings
- Our UK & US professionals are some of the best and most experienced in the business;
- We keep overheads low, so we can provide the experience of a large law firm or in-house department, without the high cost;
- If you wish, our bright, well-qualified, enthusiastic, highly-trained, and hard-working law graduates selected from the best law schools in India can provide support, which keeps costs down.
More information… in particular about our Indian office:
Quality
Staff in India can devote the time necessary to do a thorough job, yet remain cost effective. Experienced staff can concentrate on the important issues and provide input where required. Only one out of every 900 job applicants are selected for the team.
Training
Staff in India complete a practical course in media business affairs, specially designed by us.
Speed of service
We have the people to turn things around quickly. Often the time difference (4 ½ hours ahead of the UK, 9 ½ ahead of NY, in summer) means that work can be completed before the working day in the UK/US starts.
Pay only for the experience you need
Work can be done by someone with the right level of experience whether the work requires:
- someone with years of high level in-house business affairs experience;
- one of our intelligent, well-qualified junior team members; or
- a practising lawyer from our sister law firm, SmithDehn LLP.
Lower costs of our Indian office
The costs of our Indian office are dramatically lower (everything from rent to IT to staff). In particular, office rent, which comprises a large and hidden part of the legal bills from most Western law firms, is 43 times lower than in NY for our world class, state-of-the-art office facilities in India.
Our offices in the US and UK provide local experience, contacts, support and expertise.
Managing the contracting process
We have staff and systems dedicated to managing the contracting process by:
- following up and ensuring timely responses;
- updating management;
- following up after contract signature and preparing deal summaries.
Wide range of experience
We handle a wide range of transactions, so we can draw on this experience and knowledge base.
Managing templates and keeping information up to date
We undertake the time-consuming work of keeping templates up to date so you don’t have to.
No fixed overhead cost
You only pay for what you need from time to time (though we are glad to work on fixed price retainers).
Extra support
When you are busy we can quickly provide extra support. We spend the time and money training people and getting them up to speed so you don’t need to.
Indian Office/SDD Global
This is our set up in India:
Staff
- We employ the best brains from India’s top law schools (we have employees from all 3 of the top ranked law schools, which are extremely difficult to get into);
- Study is in English. Indian law is based on the common law (as is the law in UK, US, Canada, Australia and a number of other countries).
- SDD Global has Indian staff with qualifications such as Masters in International Law and Business & Trade Law and postgraduate qualifications in Intellectual Property Rights from the top-ranked National Law School;
- Staff undertake study and a practical course specifically designed by us for business affairs in the media industry. This is a practical course including exercises on drafting skills and detailed analysis of specific clauses, issues transactions and agreements. This learning is more structured and comprehensive than any of our Western attorney’s were given, despite having worked at the top law firms and businesses;
- the best graduates from the top universities want to work for us because we:
- do interesting work for interesting clients;
- encourage staff to pursue other interests such as in our Social Enterprise division, as well as pursuing personal interests such as human rights and environment work;
- provide a friendly environment and encourage critical thought and expression;
- run an organisation based on merit;
- pay well!
Practicalities
- We have state-of-the-art offices and have made a significant investment in systems and IT;
- Clients are used to working with law firms or in-house departments in a separate location. Many clients are familiar with the technology that makes location irrelevant. What they don’t know we can help with;
- IT and systems are integrated. It makes no difference whether staff or clients are in London, India or the US;
- The time difference means part of our days overlap and our Indian office can turn work around before our US and UK offices open;
- Our HQ is in the beautiful southern India city of Mysore because:
- It has excellent universities and graduates;
- It is tranquil and away from the bustle of the major cities, our excellent staff have a lifestyle unheard of in the major cities (with commuting times averaging three minutes per employee);
- It is in Karnataka (home to some of India’s greatest IT success stories and has the IT infrastructure and personnel to match);
- It is near Bangalore, which has two of the country’s top law schools.
- and of course… we can keep costs down, so we can provide an excellent service at a reasonable price.