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What Our Clients Say About Us

“When we first had the idea of setting up a crowdfunding platform in 2015 we were looking for advisors that really understood the sector and Simon and Raoul provided exactly that. As a start up company, their willingness to invest time at the idea stage, pragmatic and reasonable approach to costs and speed of delivery were extremely valuable. They are professional and trusted advisor who regularly exceed expectations.”

Anthony Rushworth

CEO, Homegrown
“Hi, nice to know you Harriet – Simon H is one of my favourite people on the planet – am adding you to that list partly by association and largely by your succinct and charming help this week – have a great break and all the very best for 2018.”

Keith Bradley

Board Advisor, Fivesquids
“Ok so we got there….! A quick thank you after a fairly hectic few days…. I did wonder if we would make it so thank you for your perseverance and professionalism. After many years of hard work by me and my team you have helped us during a most significant and important time. You help people like us realise and capitalise on our ambitions and effort – very valuable and much appreciated. I will be in touch, but for now Thanks for going the extra mile.”

Philip Evans

CEO, Pex Software
“WHEN WE FIRST HAD THE IDEA OF SETTING UP A CROWDFUNDING PLATFORM IN 2015 WE WERE LOOKING FOR ADVISORS THAT REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE SECTOR AND SIMON AND RAOUL PROVIDED EXACTLY THAT. AS A START UP COMPANY, THEIR WILLINGNESS TO INVEST TIME AT THE IDEA STAGE, PRAGMATIC AND REASONABLE APPROACH TO COSTS AND SPEED OF DELIVERY WERE EXTREMELY VALUABLE. THEY ARE PROFESSIONAL AND TRUSTED ADVISOR WHO REGULARLY EXCEED EXPECTATIONS.”

ANTHONY RUSHWORTH

CEO, HOMEGROWN
“AYIMA HAS BEEN WORKING WITH SIMON HALBERSTAM FOR OVER 5 YEARS ON ALL OUR CLIENT CONTRACTS. THE EVER CHANGING WORLD OF DIGITAL CAN BRING WITH IT ITS OWN COMPLEXITIES FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE; SIMON FULLY UNDERSTANDS OUR INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS AND CUTS THROUGH THE LEGAL JARGON TO EXPLAIN CLAUSES REQUIRING NEGOTIATION IN PLAIN ENGLISH. HE HAS AN INCREDIBLY SWIFT TURNAROUND, OFTEN DELIVERING WORK OUTSIDE OF OFFICE HOURS AND IS FULLY TRANSPARENT ON COSTS, PROVIDING REGULAR BREAKDOWNS OF TIME SPENT ACROSS ALL THE CONTRACTS HE IS WORKING ON WITH US. HIS PRAGMATIC AND PROFESSIONAL APPROACH MAKE HIM INCREDIBLY EASY TO WORK WITH AND I WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO HESITATION IN RECOMMENDING HIM.” 

NICKY APPLEGARTH

MANAGING DIRECTOR, AYIMA
“WE WERE RECOMMENDED TO SIMON VIA AN INDUSTRY COLLEAGUE. HE IS AN EXCELLENT LISTENER, EXTRAPOLATOR OF THE RELEVANT FACTS AND HIGHLY LOGICAL IN HIS THOUGHT PROCESSES AND IS METHODICAL. WE DEVELOPED A NUMBER OF PRODUCTS FOR A WELL-KNOWN BEAUTY PRODUCT COMPANY THAT WAS THEN SOLD TO A MUCH LARGER INDUSTRY GIANT. THE NEW COMPANY WANTED TO ALTER THE CONTRACT, WHICH INCLUDED A COMMISSION RATE IN PERPETUITY. THEIR NEWLY PROPOSED CONTACT WAS AMBIGUOUS AND UNCLEAR.  SIMON FIRSTLY ALLAYED OUR FEARS AND SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES AND ADDED CERTAIN AMENDMENTS THAT WERE TOTALLY TRANSPARENT TO PROTECT OUR RIGHTS IN PERPETUITY. THESE WERE PUT IN A MANNER THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE TO THE NEW OWNERS. WE FOUND HIS PERFORMANCE TO BE PROFESSIONAL, SPEEDY, HIGHLY EFFICIENT AND GOOD VALUE. WE HAVE NO HESITATION IN RECOMMENDING HIS SERVICES AND WE PLAN TO USE HIS SERVICES SHOULD THE NEED ARISE.”

NICK MCKAY

DIRECTOR CAROB TREE LTD.
“IN 2012 I WAS LOOKING FOR A TECH LAWYER WHO GOT THE COMMERCIALS AS WELL AS THE LEGALS. I FOUND HIM IN SIMON HALBERSTAM. HE IS VERY ASTUTE AND WORKS ON A FIXED PRICE AND VERY FAST BASIS. HE ALSO ADDS A LOT OF VALUE HAVING SINCE INTRODUCED US TO SEVERAL POTENTIAL CLIENTS.  I HAVE NO HESITATION IN RECOMMENDING HIM.”

NATE BURKE

CEO DIGINIUS
“404 TEAM HAVE WORKED WITH SIMON HALBERSTAM TO CREATE A SUITE OF CLIENT CONTRACTS.  OUR COMPANY IS ALL ABOUT TAKING THE FROWN OUT OF IT FOR SMES.  WE WANTED OUR CONTRACTS TO REFLECT THIS AND THE GOAL WAS TO MAKE THE SUITE USER-FRIENDLY, UNDERSTANDABLE AND NOT OFF-PUTTING (IN TERMS OF LANGUAGE AND LENGTH) –  WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE LEGAL PROTECTION FOR US OR OUR CLIENTS.  ALL WITH A LIMITED BUDGET. THAT’S NOT ALL.  OUR FLAGSHIP PRODUCT IS VIRTUAL DESKTOPS ON A PAY-AS-YOU-CONSUME BASIS – USING CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY – SO WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LAWYER HAD A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THIS.  SIMON DID NOT DISAPPOINT US.  IN FACT, HIS EXPERTISE ON THESE MATTERS HAS BEEN INVALUABLE.  WE HAVE TOTAL CONFIDENCE IN HIS LEGAL ADVICE. SIMON’S TURNAROUND TIME COUPLED WITH HIS THOROUGH APPROACH HAVE ENABLED US TO BE ON TIME WITH OUR CLIENTS. ALL THIS, CHARGED FOR IN A FAIR AND TRANSPARENT WAY. I HAVE NO HESITATION IN RECOMMENDING SIMON HALBERSTAM FOR ORGANIZATIONS DEALING WITH ALL IT ISSUES”

JO RADCLIFFE

MANAGING DIRECTOR, 404 TEAM LTD (TRANSFORMING THE WORKPLACE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY)
“MAGUS HAS WORKED WITH SIMON HALBERSTAM FOR OVER 10 YEARS, AND HE DEALS WITH ALL OUR CLIENT CONTRACTS AND IP-RELATED ISSUES. BEING IN COMPLEX ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE RAISES MANY CHALLENGES; SIMON’S DEEP EXPERTISE ON THESE MATTERS HAS BEEN INVALUABLE, AND I HAVE TOTAL CONFIDENCE IN HIS ADVICE. WE TYPICALLY NEED TO RESPOND VERY QUICKLY AND SIMON’S TURNAROUND TIME, OFTEN ON COMPLEX ISSUES, IS ALWAYS EXTREMELY PROMPT, EVEN WHEN AN OUT-OF-HOURS RESPONSE IS REQUIRED. I HAVE NO HESITATION RECOMMENDING SIMON FOR ORGANISATIONS DEALING WITH SOFTWARE, AND RELATED IT ISSUES.”

SIMON LANDE

CEO, MAGUS WEBSITE GOVERNANCE AND COMPLIANCE
“WORKING WITH SIMON WAS A BREEZE. NOT HAVING A GREAT UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGAL ASPECT OF SAAS HE PUT EVERYTHING IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND TERMS, EXPLAINED EVERYTHING CONCISELY AND ADVISED ON WHAT ACTIONS TO TAKE AS WELL AS ADVISING ON FURTHER POINTS TO ENSURE MY START UP COMPANY WAS LEGALLY PROTECTED NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. ALTHOUGH THE QUOTE WAS NOT THE LOWEST I RECEIVED IT WAS DEFINITELY WORTH EVERY POUND SPENT IN JUST PEACE OF MIND AND EXTRA ADVICE THAT SIMON GAVE. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND SIMON TO ANY SOFTWARE COMPANY FOR HIS PROFESSIONALISM, LEGAL ADVICE GIVING (ON BOTH DIRECT AND RELATED SUBJECTS) AND HIS ABILITY TO DESCRIBE COMPLEX LEGAL MATTERS IN A EASY TO UNDERSTAND WAY”

PAUL COX

CEO, FINGS LIMITED
“AS AN EXPERIENCED CEO, I HAVE REPEATEDLY CHOSEN SIMON HALBERSTAM AS LEGAL ADVISOR OVER THE LAST DECADE BECAUSE I VALUE THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU CHOOSE SIMON, YOU GET SIMON. HE TAKES TIME TO FAMILIARISE HIMSELF WITH THE BUSINESS AND ITS TECHNOLOGY, AND HE THEN PERSONALLY HANDLES THE RELATIONSHIP RATHER THAN DELEGATING …. UNLIKE OTHER LAW FIRMS. THIS ALLOWS HIM TO BRING A HIGH LEVEL OF SKILL TO DRAFTING AND NEGOTIATING CONTRACTS, PUTTING MY COMPANIES IN THE BEST POSSIBLE LEGAL POSITIONS. OTHER QUALITIES I’VE APPRECIATED ARE THE FACT THAT HE CONSISTENTLY PROVIDES PROMPT AND PRAGMATIC ADVICE, AND HIS FEE STRUCTURE IS BOTH REASONABLE AND TRANSPARENT.”

KARL W FEILDER

CEO, THE NEUTRAL GROUP LIMITED
“SIMON HALBERSTAM HAS PROVIDED ALL OUR IT LAW ADVICE IN THE UK FOR OVER TEN YEARS, DURING WHICH TIME HE HAS UNFAILINGLY PROVIDED EXTREMELY PROMPT,DETAILED, INTELLIGENT AND COST-EFFECTIVE ADVICE. AS A SOFTWARE HOUSE SELLING OUR OWN AND THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE, BOTH DIRECTLY AND VIAPARTNERS, WE NEED A BROAD VARIETY OF IT CONTRACTS COVERING BOTH PACKAGED SOFTWARE AND SERVICES.  HIS INITIAL APPROACH, BASED ON TAILORED TEMPLATES PROVIDED US WITH A SPEEDY AND AFFORDABLE QUANTUM IMPROVEMENT IN OUR STANDARD CONTRACTS AND HAS SINCE KEPT PACE WITH CHANGES AS REQUIRED.”

STEVE TOOTILL

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, HELPIT SYSTEMS LIMITED (SOFTWARE HOUSE SPECIALISING IN DATA CLEANSING SOFTWARE) WWW.HELPIT.COM
“SOCITM PROMOTES THE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR. SIMON HALBERSTAM PROVIDES LEGAL ADVICE TO SOCITM AND HELPED US WHEN WE HAD TO DEAL WITH A BREACH OF COPYRIGHT THAT WAS REPORTED COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BLUE AND REQUIRED IMMEDIATE RESOLUTION. HIS ADVICE WAS QUICK, RESPONSIVE AND TO THE POINT. IT ENABLED US TO REACH IN THE END AN AMICABLE AGREEMENT WITH THE COMPANY THAT HAD INFRINGED OUR COPYRIGHT. IN MY GENERAL MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE I CAN’T RECALL SUCH A FAST TURN ROUND OF REPLIES AND SUGGESTED REWORDINGS, AT SOME UNSOCIABLE HOURS.THIS APPROACH HELPED GREATLY TO RESOLVE THE MATTER.”

MARTIN GREENWOOD

SOCITM INSIGHT PROGRAMME DIRECTOR, SOCIETY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT
“WE HAVE BEEN USING SIMON HALBERSTAM’S SERVICES FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND HAVE RECEIVED A CONSISTENT LEVEL OF EXCELLENT SERVICE OVER THAT PERIOD.   AS A SMALL BUSINESS WE LIKE TO MOVE QUICKLY WHEN THE NEED ARISES, AND SIMON HAS ALWAYS BEEN EXTREMELY RESPONSIVE TO OUR REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE.  MOST OF OUR WORK WITH SIMON HAS INVOLVED GENERAL CONTRACT LAW AND HIS ADVICE HAS ALWAYS RECOGNISED THE BALANCE BETWEEN LEGAL RIGOUR AND COMMERCIAL REALITY.  WHERE WE HAVE HAD TO ENTER INTO POTENTIALLY LITIGIOUS AREAS, SIMON HAS CONDUCTED NEGOTIATIONS TO ACHIEVE A MORE THAN SATISFACTORY RESULT.”

WILLIAM GRAY

MANAGING DIRECTOR, MACFARLANE TELESYSTEMS LTD (22-26 ALBERT EMBANKMENT, LONDON, SE1 7TJ)
“I HAVE USED SIMON HALBERSTAM FOR OVER TEN YEARS FOR ALL OUR SOFTWARE LICENCES, MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS, RESELLER AGREEMENTS, INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS ETC. SIMON’S SPEED OF RESPONSE IS VERY IMPRESSIVE. VERY OFTEN IT IS THE CASE THAT HE IS ABLE TO COME UP WITH VARIATIONS TO AGREEMENTS DURING MY TELEPHONE CALL TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE, MAKING AMENDMENTS AS WE SPEAK, AND AT THE END OF THE CALL SIMON SENDS ME THE AMENDED DOCUMENT BY EMAIL FOR MY IMMEDIATE USE. SIMON GIVES YOU A LOT OF CONFIDENCE AS THERE IS NEVER ANY HESITATION IN THE ADVICE HE GIVES YOU. I KNOW I COULD FIND A MUCH CHEAPER SOLICITOR IN PETERBOROUGH WHERE WE ARE LOCATED, HOWEVER I KNOW FROM PAST EXPERIENCE THAT LOCAL SOLICITORS DO NOT HAVE THE WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE THAT SIMON DOES AND, BECAUSE OF THIS, IT TAKES MUCH LONGER TO GET THE APPROPRIATE ADVICE (WHICH HAS BEEN INCORRECT ON OCCASION) AND THE FINAL BILL CAN BE MUCH HIGHER IN THE END (AND EVEN MORE COSTLY IF THE ADVICE IS INCORRECT). FOR A CITY-BASED SOLICITOR, I THINK SIMON OFFERS GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY AND I WOULD RECOMMEND HIS SERVICES TO ANYONE.”

LORRAINE COUSINS

MANAGING DIRECTOR, HALCYON SOFTWARE, WWW.HALCYONSOFTWARE.COM
“SIMPSON COMMUNICATIONS PROVIDES MULTIMEDIA IT SOLUTIONS AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO THE GLOBAL ENERGY INDUSTRY. IN 2007, WE NEEDED TO PREPARE A NEW SET OF CONTRACTUAL DOCUMENTATION TO COVER DEVELOPMENT, LICENSING AND SUPPORT. WE INSTRUCTED SIMON HALBERSTAM AT WEBLAW AND RECEIVED A VERY EFFICIENT, INFORMED, COST-EFFECTIVE AND FRIENDLY SERVICE. HIS ADVICE AND GUIDANCE HAS BEEN TESTED IN NUMEROUS PROCUREMENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH MAJOR PLAYERS AND PROVEN TO BE ROBUST. I HAVE NO HESITATION IN RECOMMENDING HIM TO ANY IT COMPANY THAT ASPIRES TO ACHIEVE BEST PRACTICE.”

PAUL SIMPSON

MANAGING DIRECTOR, SIMPSON COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED (HTTP://WWW.SIMPCOM.CO.UK)
LAKELOVERS IS ONE OF THE LEADING PROVIDERS OF RENTED COTTAGE ACCOMMODATION IN THE LAKE DISTRICT. WE HAD TWO DOMAIN NAME ISSUES THAT WERE IMPACTING NEGATIVELY ON OUR BUSINESS. WE CAME ACROSS SIMON HALBERSTAM ON ANOTHER DOMAIN NAME MATTER AND WERE IMPRESSED BY HIS KNOWLEDGE, PRAGMATISM AND EFFICIENCY. WE ASKED HIM TO ASSIST US AND WITHIN A FEW WEEKS BOTH MATTERS HAD BEEN RESOLVED TO OUR SATISFACTION. WE WERE VERY PLEASED WITH THE SERVICE THAT WE RECEIVED. SIMON IS EASY TO DEAL WITH AND UP FRONT ABOUT COSTS. WE WOULD RECOMMEND HIM WITHOUT HESITATION.”

PAUL LIDDELL

CEO, TRADITIONAL LAKELAND COTTAGES LTD (WWW.LAKELOVERS.CO.UK)
“INNOVATION DATA PROCESSING IS A DEVELOPER AND PROVIDER OF SYSTEM SOFTWARE AND WE LICENSED 1000S OF CLIENTS OVER A PERIOD THAT SPANS MORE THAN 30 YEARS.  MANY OF THE LARGEST AND WELL KNOWN CORPORATIONS WORLDWIDE DEPEND ON INNOVATION FOR BACKUP, STORAGE MANAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE SOLUTIONS. “AT INNOVATION WE HAVE DEALT WITH SIMON HALBERSTAM FOR MANY YEARS.  WHILST I AM SURE THAT WE COULD NOT BE CLASSIFIED AS A BIG USER OF HIS SERVICES WE HAVE NEVER FELT THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED ANYTHING LESS THAN A FIRST CLASS FRIENDLY SERVICE. “HIS RESPONSE HAS ALWAYS BEEN QUICK, HIS APPROACH PRAGMATIC AND HIS ADVICE SOLID.  IN DEALING WITH CONTRACTUAL ISSUES I BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE THREE OF THE MAJOR INGREDIENTS REQUIRED TO EFFICIENTLY ADDRESS WHAT CAN BE TESTING ISSUES.“I PERSONALLY WOULD HAVE NO HESITATION IN RECOMMENDING SIMON’S SERVICES TO BOTH SMALL AND LARGE ORGANISATIONS.”

CHRIS WARREN

EUROPEAN MANAGER, INNOVATION DATA PROCESSING (WWW.INNOVATIONDP.FDR.COM)
“HAVING NEVER REALLY DEALT WITH LAWYERS BEFORE AND SPEAKING TO A FEW ‘APPARENT EXPERTS’ IN IT LAW WHO MADE WHAT I WAS TRYING TO ACHIEVE SOUND COMPLICATED, IT WAS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR TO COME ACROSS SIMON HALBERSTAM WHO SIMPLIFIED THE WHOLE PROCESS. FROM THE INITIAL PHONE CALL ALL THE WAY THROUGH FINALISING THE FINER DETAILS, IT WAS CLEAR THAT SIMON HALBERSTAM HAS A VAST AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE IT INDUSTRY. MY DECISION TO USE WEBLAW WAS EASY AND WAS HELPED BY THE FACT I WAS ABLE TO VIEW SOME OF THE PREPARATORY WORK BEFORE MAKING A COMMITMENT.”

MARK GRUNDY

PARCEL JUICE LTD
“FIRSTLY I WOULD LIKE TO CONFIRM THE RECEIPT OF THE SOFTWARE LICENCE THAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN FOR ME AND SECONDLY I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED AND FOR THE PROMPT SERVICE.”

WILLIAM ROBINSON

HYDROPONICS APP DEVELOPER
“AFTER BEING ADVISED THAT THE MECHANIC OF A WEB APPLICATION I WAS LAUNCHING MAY INFRINGE ON THE GAMBLING ACT, I WENT LOOKING FOR A SUITABLE LAWYER TO HANDLE MY AFFAIRS. THE APPLICATION HAD POTENTIAL TO GENERATE LARGE SUMS OF MONEY SO I DIDN’T WANT TO MESS AROUND WHEN IT CAME TO THE LEGALITIES. AFTER A LESS THAN PLEASING EXPERIENCE WITH ANOTHER FIRM I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO STUMBLE UPON SIMON HALBERSTAM. SIMON’S MANNER WAS POLITE, DOWN TO EARTH AND EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL. HE UNDERSTOOD THE URGENCY TO WHICH I NEEDED RESULTS AND WAS ABLE TO FULFIL MY REQUIREMENTS WITH MUCH SATISFACTION. SIMON’S ADVICE WAS THOROUGH AND I WALKED AWAY WITH A GREAT SET OF TERMS & CONDITIONS AND A FEELING OF CONFIDENCE. I WILL DEFINITELY WORK WITH SIMON AGAIN.”

DANIEL IVANOVIC

MANAGING AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT ANTIBLANKS LTD (JUNE 2013)
“SIMON’S EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE IT SECTOR WAS EVIDENT FROM OUR FIRST MEETING AND IS REFLECTED IN THE CLARITY AND PRECISION OF HIS LEGAL ADVICE. HE IS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS I HAVE MET AND HAS CONSISTENTLY DELIVERED A BLISTERINGLY FAST SERVICE.”

IAN WARR

DIRECTOR OF EYEBRIGHT MEDIA AND CREATOR OF JUMPLIT