Matt Whelan

Matt has extensive experience advising on a wide variety of complex and high-value commercial contracts. His technology work covers all aspects of information technology arrangements, from software and hardware licensing through to implementation, intellectual property, maintenance and support, as well as bespoke AI-specific contracts; including provisions relating to model drift and software-as-a-service terms. He also advises on AI strategy and policy documents, helping clients navigate the ethical use of AI and the adoption of internal generative AI policies. Beyond technology, Matt regularly advises on website and platform terms and conditions, subscriptions, sponsorship, data, goods and services agreements, intellectual property licensing arrangements, and distribution and outsourcing arrangements. Alongside his contracts practice, Matt advises processors, controllers and data subjects on a wide variety of complex data processing activities, including data scraping and the use of medical and care records. He has developed particular expertise in multijurisdictional data protection matters, frequently addressing complex issues that arise in the context of AI solutions, and provides advice across a range of cyber security matters. Matt also frequently supports M&A transactions (acting for either buyers or sellers) with a particular focus on ensuring robust data protection compliance throughout the transaction process. Matt also has significant experience in strategic procurement matters, providing end-to-end legal support from pre-tender through to award and beyond. He has led on a number of complex technology procurements for major public sector clients, bringing both commercial rigour and sector knowledge to each engagement. His sector experience is broad, spanning cyber security, digital technology and artificial intelligence, oil and gas, leisure and sport, transport and aviation, social housing, and local government, which allows him to bring genuine insight to his clients' most complex commercial challenges. Matt has undertaken an international in-house secondment at Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in Abu Dhabi, where he led on a number of the company's IT-related matters. This experience, combined with his domestic practice, gives Matt a well-rounded perspective on advising clients with cross-border commercial and technology needs. Matt's expertise has been recognised on a number of occasions. He was listed in Legal 500 in both 2022 and 2024 as a 'Key Lawyer' in Trowers' Tier 1 ranking for Local Government work in the West Midlands, and in 2026 in Trowers' Birmingham corporate and commercial listing. He was also Highly Commended in the 'Young Lawyer of the Year' category at the Midlands Insider Young Professionals Awards 2023, and serves as a judge at the National AI Awards. Matt regularly delivers training on AI and contracting, with a particular focus on managing AI and data privacy issues in the technology sector, and is a member of both the AI Forum and the Cyber Special Interest Group in the West Midlands. Outside of his client work, Matt is a member of the firm's national Sustainability Committee and contributes to the West Midland region's broader commercial and technological development.