The Society for Computers and Law (SCL) will next week launch an IT disputes interest group to provide a forum for lawyers, experts, users and suppliers to share experiences.

Key aims of the group include educating members and providing a co-ordinated response to government legislation.

The group will also liaise with the Technology and Construction Court users committee, review the practice of the court in IT disputes, and co-operate with other organisations with similar interests.

The group will be formally launched with a talk by Judge Bowsher on trying IT cases, with future events being held on a quarterly basis.

Group chairman Mark Culbert, a litigator at the London office of Osborne Clarke, said: 'The increasing reliance upon technology inevitably leads to more disputes, and the more important IT is to a business, the more serious the consequences of any dispute.

'The idea is not just to bring together a group of lawyers to talk about cases but rather to get a broader understanding of the issues faced by users and suppliers in resolving disputes.'

Mr Culbert added that the group was keen to include non-solicitors.

The eight-strong committee includes Clive Freedman, a barrister and arbitrator, Jon Spain, an actuary and arbitrator, and Tony Sykes, an IT expert.

The launch follows the success of a planning meeting held last November, which was attended by more than 50 people.

The disputes interest group will be separate from another SCL group that looks at the use of IT by the courts.

Contact Mark Culbert at mark.culbert@osborneclarke.com.

Philip Hoult