International law firm Taylor Wessing has advised new client ROLI, a multi-award-winning music technology company that is currently developing new musical devices, on its $27m Series B round financing led by leading US-based venture capital firm, Foundry Group, supported by other new investors Business Growth Fund Ventures and Founders Fund.

Existing investors including Balderton Capital, FirstMark Capital, Horizons Ventures, Index Ventures and Universal Music Group also participated in the round.

Vinge has advised Assemblin and Triton in connection with its acquisition of Delt Data El & Tele Aktiebolag. The Delt-Group provides installations and maintenance within the sectors electricity, ventilation and security and is situated in six locations in Västerbotten.

Vinge’s team consisted of partner Christina Kokko and associates Filip Öhrner, Johanna Wiberg, Lova Unge, Josefine Larsson, Emil Fahlén Godö and Marita Ljunggren.

International technology, media and telecoms law firm Olswang has advised global content production company FremantleMedia on its investment into Squawka, the London-based football digital media business. FremantleMedia is now the single largest shareholder in the business, having taken an initial stake of almost 35% with options to increase its shareholding.

Weil is advising Vonage Holdings Corp. in its definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Nexmo, Inc., a global leader in the Communications Platform as a Service ("CPaaS") segment of the cloud communications market, for $230 million in cash and stock.

Orrick represented Microsoft Corporation in its acquisition of Solair srl, an innovative Internet of Things (IoT) software startup based in Bologna, Italy. Microsoft plans to integrate Solair’s technology into its Microsoft Azure IoT suite.

In a deal showcasing Orrick’s cross-border capabilities, a team of attorneys and staff in the firm’s Milan, Rome, Seattle and San Francisco offices worked on the transaction.

On May 4, 2016, Sonova Holding AG ("Sonova") announced that they entered into an agreement with HAL Investments B.V. to acquire AudioNova International B.V. ("AudioNova"). AudioNova is one of Europe's largest hearing aid retailers, operating over 1,300 stores in 8 countries. The purchase consideration will be paid in cash and values AudioNova at EUR 830 million. The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approval and expected in the second half of 2016.

Baker & McKenzie recently advised BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd, a joint stock company established in the PRC and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange ("BOE"), on its share subscription, through its wholly owned subsidiary, in Varitronix International Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange ("Varitronix").  The share subscription involved the subscription of a total of 400 million new shares at an issue price of HK$3.5 per share, amounting to HK$1.4 billion.

Charles Russell Speechlys has advised the Civica Group (an investee company of OMERS Private Equity) on its two latest acquisitions – the acquisition of digital transformation specialist, IPL Group and the acquisition of legal IT solutions provider, Norwel Computer Services.
IPL Group

International legal practice Osborne Clarke has advised CoStar Europe Limited on its acquisition of Thomas Daily GmbH. CoStar Group is the leading provider of commercial real estate information, analytics and online marketplaces. The company’s suite of online service offerings includes information about space available for lease, properties for sale, as well as analytical capabilities and industry news.

Thomas Daily is a leading provider of market information for the German real estate industry. CoStar aims to maintain the company’s growth with the acquisition.

Fieldfisher has advised the voice of advertisers on its new template contract.

European law firm Fieldfisher has, on behalf of ISBA, drafted a new template framework contract for use in media buying and planning.

ISBA, the trade body for British advertisers, has previously collaborated with the IPA, the professional body for advertising and marketing agencies, to publish a framework agreements but, with the digital media space causing issues over transparency and accountability, has this year created the template agreement alone for the first time.