International law firm Simmons & Simmons has advised NEC Europe on the formation of a long-term strategic partnership in Enterprise Communications in Europe and the transfer of NEC Enterprise Solutions’ direct sales and service businesses in four European countries to the Getronics family.

The mutually beneficial deal brings a very strong pan-EMEA system integration channel to NEC Enterprise Solutions, enabling growth and market penetration of its solutions. At the same time, NEC Enterprise Solutions’ expertise and customer base in the four countries allows Getronics and Connectis to further expand businesses by addressing broader market opportunities with an enhanced portfolio of Enterprise Communications solutions and service.

NEC Europe is a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation, a leader in the integration of IT network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world.

The Simmons & Simmons team was led by the head of the firm's technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) sector, and partner in the corporate group in London, Andrew McMillan. Andrew was supported by corporate associates Lesley Olsen, Makiko Yamamoto and Aisling Scott, ICT associate Kunaal Mistry, employment partner Andrea Finn and employment associate Cathryn Bean in London, and corporate partner Carlos Jimenez de Laiglesia and corporate associate Oscar Cabezuela in Madrid. The team at Simmons & Simmons worked in partnership with lawyers from Swiss law firm Lenz & Staehelin and SRS Advogados in Portugal.

Commenting on the transaction, Andrew McMillan, said: “We are delighted to have worked in partnership with NEC to deliver this strategically important deal for both sides. Our specialist sector expertise and geographic reach meant we were ideally placed to complete this transaction across several jurisdictions”.