Karen is a Partner in Simpson Grierson's Commercial Department and co-leader of our Information and Communications Technology Group.

A particular focus for Karen is working with users and suppliers in the technology sector in relation to various information technology, e-commerce, commercialisation of technology and telecommunications matters. She has extensive experience in advising on large scale and business critical ICT projects with her work including advising on and assisting with procurement strategy and RFP/RFI processes through to negotiating and documenting such arrangements.

Karen also has experience in a wide range of commercial matters and her work includes advising on, negotiating and drafting a diverse range of commercial contracts such as major outsourcing and facilities management projects, joint ventures, mergers/acquisitions and due diligence. 

Karen also has extensive experience in advising on event management and sponsorship arrangements (acting for event organisers, sponsors and sponsored parties in relation to sporting, cultural, educational and charitable events and projects), licensing of intellectual property rights, player contracts and broadcasting arrangements.

• IT systems design, development and implementation projects, including the replacement of Inland Revenue's mainframe for all of its core systems, an upgrade of Inland Revenue's payments processing system, finance and retail system for Briscoe Group, mobile fleet freight tracking and management system for Toll Network and a new POS system and an integrated venue and event management system for Auckland City/The Edge
• IT outsourcing and services arrangements, including the outsourcing of Inland Revenue's mainframe services, Telecom's outsourcing of IT services to EDS and IT services arrangements for PlaceMakers and Fisher & Paykel Finance
• Telecommunications network and services arrangements, including Ericsson's supply and ongoing support and maintenance of TelstraClear's national IP network, the supply and support of satellite services, the supply and support of a microwave communications network for the New Zealand Police and the provision of managed services for a national telecomunications network
• A proposed national 3GSM network rollout
• Website development and hosting agreements, website terms and conditions, including terms and conditions for online transactions
• Software licensing and support arrangements
• Sponsorship, licensing, broadcasting, competition structure and governance matters for the NZRU 
• Funding and performance agreements

• Brookers' An Introduction to E-commerce Law in New Zealand - Co-author
• New Zealand Computer Society - Member
• Women in Technology - Member