TOPIC

Between 50% and 80% of complex software and systems development projects fail – they are over budget, don’t meet deadlines or fail to deliver significant functionality. Frequently, the cause of failure can be traced back to problems in drafting development agreements.

This program will consider:

1. Key causes of failure in development projects
2. Top 10 drafting pitfalls and how to avoid them, including:
(a) treatment of milestones and milestone payments
(b) project definition
(c) intellectual property issues
(d) involvement of key personnel
(e) change of control
(f) project management clauses
3. Escalation and Dispute Resolution Provisions
4. Understanding the vendor’s/developer’s interests

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Bradley Limpert
Partner, Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP

Bradley Limpert is a partner of the firm Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, based in the Toronto office. He is co-chair of Gowlings’ National Technology Industry Practice Group. His practice encompasses many areas that are of key concern to technology based businesses, including technology contracting, intellectual property audits and litigation.

Prior to entering law, Mr. Limpert received a Bachelor of Engineering degree (engineering physics) and a Master of Applied Science (electrical and biomedical engineering). He also worked for IBM for a number of years in software development, project management and marketing. He graduated (on the dean’s honour’s list) from the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, where he won the prize in Intellectual Property Law.

He has taught patent and trade secret law as an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto. He writes and speaks frequently on matters relating to technology-based companies. His book, Technology Contracting: Law, Precedents and Commentary, has just been published by Carswell-Thomson, a leading Canadian legal publisher.

COST FOR ATTENDANCE

Cost for lunch: $10 for members and students, $15 for non-members, payable at the meeting. Receipts will be available. Cheques should be made payable to the Toronto Computer Lawyers’ Group.

REGISTRATION

REGISTER BEFORE 5:00 p.m., Friday, December 9, 2005.

REGISTRATIONS WILL NOT BE CONFIRMED UNLESS THE LUNCH IS FULLY BOOKED.

Cancellations will be accepted before 4:00 p.m., Friday, December 9, 2005. Substitutions are permitted anytime. Registrants who do not attend and do not cancel or send a substitute may be invoiced for lunch.

PLEASE E-MAIL REGISTRATIONS OR CANCELLATIONS TO: secretarytclg@hotmail.com

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS AND NEW MEMBERS

The 2004-2005 memberships expired on August 31, 2005. Renew your membership for 2005-2006. The fee to join the TCLG for 2005-2006 is $30. Law students enrolled in full-time studies may join free of charge. Membership runs from September to August, and the TCLG meets monthly from September to May.

The membership form can be accessed through the following link: www.tclg.org

Please circulate this notice to business associates, clients, colleagues or others who may be interested in attending a meeting or joining the TCLG.