Browne Jacobson expands significantly in London with Technology and Commercial team hire from EY Law

UK & Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson announces today the addition of a technology and commercial law team from EY Law. Led by Rowan Armstrong and Alex Mason, the team bring sector-leading expertise in financial services and other commercial sectors - further enhancing the firm’s capabilities in end-to-end technology legal services to clients across UK & Ireland.

Partners Rowan Armstrong and Alex Mason both joined EY Law in 2021 to create and lead the Financial Services Commercial and Technology Law team. Rowan previously had been with Travers Smith, DAC Beachcroft and New Zealand firm Russell McVeagh and Alex previously worked in-house at IBM and Accenture as well as in private practice with Clifford Chance, Baker McKenzie and Baker Botts. They will be joined by Duncan McMeekin (Legal Director), Ben Littlejohns (Senior Associate) and Carmen Safavi (Associate). 

The team advises on a broad range of technology, commercial, JV and sourcing contracts; operational risk and contractual compliance; and trading, technology and IP due diligence.  From a sector perspective, a particular focus is advice to financial institutions on a broad range of commercial and technology matters, including compliance with UK and European wide sector specific ICT laws and regulations.  

Browne Jacobson is already well known for its significant capabilities in end-to-end, complex, large-scale technology transactions, with particular expertise in IP, data, corporate and commercial technology and digital disruption, spearheaded by Partner Anthony Nagle who heads up the firm’s technology practice.

The firm launched in Dublin in 2022 to act as bridge between the UK and Ireland. This enables the firm to advise domestic and international clients on cross-border regulations such as the EU Digital Operational Resilience Act. The firm’s financial services and insurance practice is well-established in the City, led by Jonathan Newbold, and will benefit significantly from the addition of commercial technology expertise. Global spend on technological solutions is projected to total USD5.1 trillion in 2024. With investments in AI and automation on the rise, Browne Jacobson is well positioned to offer end-to-end legal advisory on technology transactions and digital transformations.

Richard Medd, Managing Partner at Browne Jacobson, said:

“Over the last few years, we’ve sought to expand and diversify our offering on technology and digital matters to give clients the increasingly sophisticated support they require within their industry sectors. “With Rowan, Alex, and the team joining the firm from EY, this marks the next phase of our continued expansion in the technology sector following the launch of our TMT focused office in Dublin in 2022.”

Declan Cushley, Head of both Browne Jacobson’s London office and Corporates sector strategy, said:

“The addition of the team from EY is a landmark step for our technology and financial services offering in London. The digital transformation journey of many global businesses starts in the City, and with our newly expanded team, we look forward to helping our clients navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities with technology, AI, data and IT governance. Our new colleagues are well regarded as market-leading experts in commercial and technology law and will make a vital contribution to our ongoing growth ambitions in the capital.”