Mobile App Development Legal Services

Supporting Innovative Mobile App Ventures with Strategic Legal Guidance

Whether you’re a start-up building your first app or an established SME launching a new digital product, navigating the legal landscape of mobile application development is critical to protecting your business, brand, and bottom line. At the Jonathan Lea Network, we work with developers, entrepreneurs, investors, and SMEs to provide clear, practical legal advice across all stages of mobile app development, from initial concept to post-launch compliance and commercialisation.

With deep experience advising in the tech space, we understand the fast-paced nature of app development and the specific legal challenges it brings. We help you avoid costly mistakes, safeguard your intellectual property, and ensure that your app meets all legal requirements.

Common Legal Challenges Faced by Mobile App Developers

Mobile app development involves a unique blend of technical, commercial, and legal complexities. Businesses often come to us facing one or more of the following issues:

• Protecting their idea from being copied before or after the app goes live.
• Drafting contracts with third-party developers, designers, or contractors to clarify ownership and payment terms.
• Ensuring GDPR compliance when handling user data or personal information, including via in-app permissions.
• Setting up appropriate business structures to manage risk and attract funding.
• Creating watertight terms and conditions and privacy policies that are legally compliant and user-friendly.
• Managing revenue sharing agreements and intellectual property licences with stakeholders.
• Dealing with app store terms, platform restrictions, and consumer rights law.
• Handling disputes with partners, developers, or users.

At Jonathan Lea Network, we provide tailored legal support to address these challenges head-on, giving you confidence that your app is built on a secure legal foundation.

Our Legal Services for Mobile App Development

Our experienced solicitors offer end-to-end legal support covering every stage of app development. Services include:

Intellectual Property Protection

We help ensure that your brand, code, and content are protected from the outset. Our services include:

• Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) – We prepare NDAs to protect your ideas when speaking with developers, investors, or third parties. This prevents early-stage concepts being used without your permission.
• Trade mark registration – We advise on securing trade marks for your app name, logo, or slogans to protect your brand identity in the UK and overseas.
• Copyright and code ownership – We clarify who owns what in terms of code, UI/UX designs, and app content, and ensure that ownership is clearly established in your contracts.
• Licensing and assignment agreements – We draft and review agreements where IP is transferred or licensed, helping you maintain control while monetising your product.

Contract Drafting and Negotiation

Working with third-party developers or agencies without clear contractual terms is a common mistake. We can assist by:

• Preparing development agreements – These outline the scope of work, deadlines, payment schedules, IP ownership, testing and acceptance criteria, and termination clauses.
• Service level agreements (SLAs) – For ongoing support and maintenance, we ensure SLAs are fit for purpose and enforceable.
• Equity and revenue share arrangements – If you’re offering shares or a share of profits in exchange for development work, we’ll make sure the deal is fair, documented, and legally sound.

Regulatory and Data Protection Compliance

Apps that process user data must comply with UK GDPR and other data protection laws. We advise on:

• Privacy policies and cookie notices – We create bespoke, legally compliant policies tailored to your app’s functionality and data collection methods.
• Terms of use and disclaimers – We ensure your app’s terms are clear, limit your liability, and comply with consumer protection law.
• Data processing agreements (DPAs) – If you share data with third parties, we ensure appropriate contracts are in place.
• Children’s app compliance – If your app is aimed at children or collects data from minors, we’ll help you meet enhanced compliance standards.

Company and Commercial Structuring

The way you set up and structure your business can influence its tax efficiency, investment-readiness, and liability exposure. We offer support with:

• Choosing the right structure – Whether a limited company, partnership, or LLP, we help you choose and implement the most suitable legal structure for your app business.
• Shareholders’ agreements and founders’ agreements – These govern how decisions are made, equity is divided, and what happens if someone leaves the business.
• Investment rounds – We advise on seed funding, angel investment, and venture capital, including drafting and negotiating term sheets and subscription agreements.

Commercialisation and Monetisation

When it’s time to launch your app, we help you make sure your monetisation strategy is legally robust. This includes:

• Advertising and in-app purchases – Ensuring compliance with advertising standards and consumer laws.
• Affiliate and partnership agreements – Structuring commercial partnerships with influencers, resellers, or service providers.
• App store compliance – Reviewing the Apple App Store and Google Play Store terms to ensure your app meets all platform requirements.

Why Choose Jonathan Lea Network?

We are not just legal advisers—we are strategic partners with a commercial mindset and real-world tech experience. Our team stands out because:

• We work with start-ups and SMEs every day, so we understand the budget pressures, ambitions, and risks you face.
• Our lawyers have strong commercial acumen, allowing us to offer practical solutions rather than theoretical advice.
• We provide flexible fee structures, including fixed-fee packages for many services.
• We respond quickly and speak in plain English, ensuring you fully understand your legal position at every step.

Whether you need help with a single agreement or full legal oversight of your mobile app project, we deliver reliable, accessible support tailored to your needs.

Your Next Step: Get Expert Legal Help Today

Don’t let legal uncertainty hold your app back. The earlier you get legal advice, the easier it is to protect your business, avoid disputes, and build a strong platform for growth.

Contact the Jonathan Lea Network today for a free 20-minute introductory call with one of our expert commercial solicitors. Let us help you bring your app idea to life with confidence, clarity, and compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’d like help with any aspect of mobile app development from a legal perspective, please contact our team today. We’re here to support your innovation with legal clarity and confidence.

Get in touch using the contact form here or call us now on +44 (0)1444 708 640. You can also visit our team page to meet the lawyers likely to be involved, including Liam, Callum and Andrew.

Photo by Semiha Weber on Unsplash