Linklaters signs up Net Searchers to fly Blue Flag

Blue Flag, City giant Linklaters' market-leading on-line legal services provider, has this month added a domain name management service to its portfolio, along with a tool to help clients manage the new Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) legislation.For the first time, Linklaters has linked up with a third party to enhance Blue Flag.

Domain name registration service provider Net Searchers has helped to launch Blue Flag Netmark, which gives users secure control of and access to their worldwide domain name portfolio and has links to specialist intellectual property lawyers who can advise on issues such as cybersquatting.Linklaters said the average FTSE 100 company can have as many as 1,000 domain names to track.

The Blue Flag FSMA Litigation tool has been introduced to give customers guidance on the Act, which comes into force at the end of this month and represents a major shift in corporate finance law.Its four main modules are investigations, disciplinary proceedings, private rights of action, and current regulatory concerns.Patrick Hynes, chief executive officer of Blue Flag, explained that Blue Flag FSMA Litigation was the latest in a number of products which were developed to offer guidance on a specific piece of litigation.

'The reason we introduced this tool was because a number of our clients were requesting help and further information on the Act,' he said.Blue Flag.

launched in 1996, covers areas including cross-border regulatory risk management for banks, automatic document drafting in derivatives transactions, and on-line advice on employee share plans.Victoria MacCallum