Derek's practice focuses on information technology law, concentrating in technology transactions and outsourcings. He has extensive experience representing clients in large-scale technology and telecommunications projects, including multimillion-dollar technology licensing, procurement, development, and integration projects. His representative transactions include ERP system integrations, multinational software and information content licensing, and public safety systems development and support. In addition, he counsels on Internet and e-commerce initiatives, software development and open-source issues, and confidentiality and intellectual property considerations.

Derek's outsourcing experience includes traditional and business process outsourcings, both onshore and offshore. He has represented private- and public-sector clients in their outsourcing initiatives, including state governments, foreign and domestic telecommunications providers and companies in the publishing, transportation and energy sectors. Representative transactions include call center outsourcings, whole-enterprise IT outsourcings, software applications support and development outsourcings, and outsourcings of back-office systems.

He also counsels technology-related start-up companies through their entire life cycle, from initial formation and entity selection through successful exit strategies, including IPOs and mergers and acquisitions. He represents individuals and companies obtaining (or providing) angel, seed-stage, and venture capital financing, and counsels on, among other things, equity compensation, non-compete issues, and other considerations for entrepreneurs.

In 2010, Derek was named a leading lawyer in media, technology and telecoms (technology: transactions) in The Legal 500 US guide.