ITechLaw Publishes International Public Procurement Guide for In-House Counsel

74-page Document Now Available to Members

WAKEFIELD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ITechLaw, the International Technology Law Association, has announced the publication of a comprehensive guide to international public procurement policies and procedures, The International Public Procurement Guide for In-House Counsel. With members in more than 60 countries, ITechLaw is the premier worldwide organization for legal professionals practicing in the global technology sector. The procurement guide is now available to ITechLaw members, and it will be offered to all as a public service in April at no charge.

“We developed this guide to help in-house counsel who find themselves in the difficult situation of being asked to advise on the procurement legal context for jurisdictions for which they lack even a basic understanding of local public procurement requirements”

The 74-page guide was developed by ITechLaw's In-House Counsel Committee, which will maintain it and publish future updates when needed. It reviews public procurement requirements in the European Union (EU) and in 20 individual countries around the globe, with a view to both assisting in-house counsel in deciding how to proceed with procurements in other jurisdictions and helping them avoid pitfalls in local procurement law. The guide also points out the effects that a country’s political structure, history, or social/cultural challenges have had on its public procurement legislation.

"We developed this guide to help in-house counsel who find themselves in the difficult situation of being asked to advise on the procurement legal context for jurisdictions for which they lack even a basic understanding of local public procurement requirements," said Christian Ringeling of MicroStrategy, the Guide's editor. "This situation arises because it's not cost-effective for most companies either to maintain a staff of in-house counsel with procurement expertise in every applicable jurisdiction, or to engage applicable legal expertise from external qualified local counsel in the initial phase of a public RFP review. The ITechLaw guide is intended to fill this gap and provide in-house counsel with helpful roadmaps through unfamiliar territory."

The guide's focus is hands-on, covering the legal fundamentals of public procurement law for a country in such a way that lawyers unfamiliar with local requirements are able to brief themselves in a timely and efficient way, and each section has been prepared by leading attorneys in public procurement law from that country. Useful links to contract templates are provided, as are references to local law specialists (the authors) if further information is required.

"The International Public Procurement Guide for In-House Counsel is a significant accomplishment by our In-House Counsel Committee, and I commend their efforts. It took a great deal of time, expertise and organization to complete and deliver this document. I'm confident that the guide will be immensely useful to in-house counsel around the world, helping them obtain key knowledge, cost effectively," said ITechLaw President John P. Beardwood of Fasken Martineau. "ITechLaw is pleased to offer this excellent source of procurement information as a public service, and we are proud of the work our members have done in creating it. It is another great example of the informational resources that ITechLaw provides to our members, and, in this case, to the public."

About the International Technology Law Association

Founded in 1971, ITechLaw is the world's premier organization representing lawyers in the technology sector. The organization's global membership spans six continents, and embodies a broad spectrum of expertise. In addition to serving as a forum for members to discuss a wide range of legal issues, the association regularly organizes conferences that provide global networking opportunities and explore cutting-edge issues and trends in both information technology and intellectual property law. Global Sponsors, such as DLA Piper at the Platinum sponsorship level, help support ITechLaw's mission and programs. For more information, visit http://www.ITechLaw.org.

EDITORS' NOTE: The Public Procurement Guide is available to media upon request, at no charge – please send an email message to Judith Vanderkay, [e-mail].

ITechLaw and the ITechLaw logo are registered trademarks of the International Technology Law Association.