About us
Modular Law advises on a broad range of technology and commercial contracts, particularly agreements concerning supply chains, IP licensing and routes to market.
Our deep sector knowledge, proven experience and our base in the ever-expanding Northern tech scene makes us the ideal choice for the many digital and tech businesses with a footprint in Northern England.
Modular Law was founded by Steven Strassheim, a commercially-focused tech lawyer with extensive international legal experience in IT, IP and outsourcing.
A former software engineer and repatriated Geordie, Steven’s background led him to envisage a specialist legal practice focused exclusively on technology, outsourcing and digital projects, with its footprint firmly in the exciting and growing Northern tech sector. Modular Law is the result. The business began operating in 2017.
Following a busy first year at Modular Law, Steven was joined by an experienced solicitor and former in-house colleague, Rachael Cooper. Rachael and Steven together provide clients with more than 30 years of commercial legal experience, spanning both private practice with significant commercial law firms and in-house experience with major businesses ranging from financial services to consumer electronics.
Meet The TeamOffering sector-specific advice to buyers and sellers of technology and digital products and services
Modular Law offers timely, accessible and reliable advice in a range of tech-specific legal fields. Our specialisms can help your digital or tech company with issues concerning:
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Transactional IP
e.g. software and patent licensing
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Commercial
e.g. contract law and supply chain
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Regulatory
e.g. data protection
What makes us different?
The buoyant Northern tech sector includes many fledgling businesses and SMEs that have a real need for legal advice without having the budget to maintain an in-house legal team.
In addition, larger more established businesses often wish to obtain locally-based, quality, specialist tech law advice that matches their growth and ambition.
From our base in the North, Modular Law offers a refreshingly different, flexible and agile pricing structure compared to traditional, long-established law firms. There’s no need to seek IT law advice from large, multi-disciplinary law firms, or at City rates – we offer quality specialist advice, at sensible rates, from experienced lawyers.
Founded by a former software engineer turned tech lawyer, we speak both legal and techie. We thoroughly understand the technology sector. You’ll never waste time explaining APIs, DSPs or GPUs to us. Nor will you be charged for that.
Key People
Our tightly knit team is perfectly placed to assist with your tech and digital legal issues.
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The founder of Modular Law, Steven is a commercially-focused tech lawyer with extensive international legal experience in IT, IP and outsourcing deals. A former software engineer, Steven qualified as a solicitor with a major international law firm in 2004, eventually going on to lead the in-house legal teams of a significant fintech business and an international consumer products business. Steven has over 20 years of professional experience in technology and law.
A second career lawyer, Steven’s in-depth understanding of technology is founded in a prior career as a software engineer with tech businesses in Cambridge, California and Northern England. In addition to his professional legal qualifications, Steven holds a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree in Microelectronics and Software Engineering from Newcastle University, is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and a Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (MIET).
When not tech-lawyering, Steven is a busy dad and a keen musician. He can occasionally be found playing keyboards in a covers band at charity events, often using all the right chords. Steven still feeds his inner geek by a spot of Python coding, or by programming his much-too-extensive collection of synthesizers to emulate the electronic music of his ‘80s childhood.
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A graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University and Northumbria University, Rachael has over 14 years of legal experience. Rachael previously worked in a significant financial services business where she was responsible for managing a range of critical outside counsel relationships. Her extensive in-house experience has provided her with a clear view of what businesses want from their lawyers.
A former litigator, Rachael has extensive experience of resolving commercial legal disputes. She has negotiated numerous agreements over the years and has provided extensive advice on the interpretation of contracts, often in a litigation risk assessment context. Having recently beat her litigator’s sword into a contract draftsman’s ploughshare, Rachael addresses contracts from a slightly different viewpoint: she knows from court experience the importance of getting the drafting right first time.
A member of the Law Society of England & Wales and of the Society for Computers & Law, Rachael’s recent projects have included software development agreements based on both waterfall and agile methodologies. Outside of Modular Law, Rachael is fan of the beautiful North East coastline and a busy mum. Her persuasive skills were recently tested to the max to convince her four-year-old that internet shopping isn’t free.