Mice hopes to be big cheese in IT

City practice Rosenblatt has launched a new specialist internet and media division under the leadership of a trainee solicitor.

The Mice group, an acronym of media, information technology, communications and e-commerce, is being headed by Dr Peter Crowther.

Crowther is a former lecturer in law, holds four law degrees and was a member of the Norton Rose competition law group before joining Rosenblatt in January this year.

Despite this he only completed the legal practice course in the summer and will not qualify until August next year.

He describes the service offered by Mice as entrepreneurial, with the department geared to giving commercial as well as legal advice to its clients.

"It is very much intended to galvanise the businesses of our clients," he says.

"I think we are a very credible team and as a small firm we have to add value in the service we provide."

The group is currently working on the negotiations surrounding the sale and distribution of the exclusive broadcasting rights to the football World Cup to be held in the Far East in 2002.

It is also considering the increasingly popular practice of taking equity for fees in relation to a number of internet start-up companies.