Transactions

Making the most of commercial opportunities and protecting and extracting value from our clients’ most valuable assets.

Corporate & financing

From start-ups and entrepreneurs to multinationals and some of the UK’s leading institutions, we offer a wealth of expertise in corporate transactions to a diverse and innovative client base.

IT & digital

Bristows is the ‘go-to’ firm for IT & Digital for clients who want responsive, thoughtful and pragmatic legal advice.

Commercial & IP transactions

With one of the largest groups of IP lawyers in the UK, our clients seek our support on a wide range of commercial arrangements involving the creation, development and commercialisation of their most valuable assets.

Employment

With employment laws constantly changing, it is a huge challenge to keep up to date and feel confident that you are complying with the law and avoiding the pitfalls. This is where we can help.

EU & UK merger control

We help our clients navigate EU & UK merger control requirements. We also advise clients on the application of worldwide merger control laws and work with local counsel to deliver a seamless co-ordination where multiple filings are required.

Real estate

Our real estate team offers comprehensive expertise for owners and occupiers of business space as well as clients investing in, developing or financing real estate.

Tax

Our tax experts offer advice on the full range of tax issues affecting corporates, from large multi-nationals to smaller growing companies.

“The ‘highly responsive, commercial’ Marek Petecki is a ‘standout partner’ who ‘finds and communicates practicable solutions to issues, and tailors his work carefully’; he is noted for his strength in M&A involving IP and technology. Petecki’s highlights included advising AstraZeneca on the £135m sale of its pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Avonmouth to Avara, and assisted Diageo with its acquisition of a stake in a joint venture established by Piers Adam to develop a new whisky brand.”
Legal 500 2017

“Commended for its ‘excellent service’ and ‘good value for money’, Bristows LLP’s department is strong in the TMT and life sciences sectors; it also has notable experience in the consumer goods space.”
Legal 500 2017

“Life sciences expert Mark Hawes, who heads the group, acted for Albireo on its NASDAQ listing and its $200m reverse merger with Biodel.”
Legal 500 2017

“Corporate partners Mark Hawes and Marek Petecki…are recommended” in the Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology sector.”
Legal 500 2017

“Bristows LLP advises clients across a range of sectors, but has notable expertise in technology, IP and life sciences”
Legal 500 2020

Key contacts

Rebecca Andersen Senior Associate

Rebecca is an experienced commercial, outsourcing and technology specialist. She advises on complex contracts and strategic projects, as well as “business as usual” matters and data protection/privacy issues.

Francion Brooks Associate

Francion specialises in EU and UK competition law, focussing on the IP/competition law interface. She has acted in FRAND and abuse of dominance disputes, and also advises on behavioural issues and commercial arrangements. Francion has particular expertise advising clients in the technology, life sciences, and consumer products sectors.

Adam Coughlin Associate

Adam advises a range of life sciences and technology clients on matters such as technology transfer arrangements, research and development collaborations, IP ownership, supply chain agreements, financings, licensing deals and merger and acquisition transactions.

Martha Crnkovic Associate

Martha specialises in all key aspects of commercial technology law, advising UK and transnational clients on complex commercial contracts, IP/IT, corporate and procurement. Martha joined Bristows after practising in a top tier Australian firm, where she worked on major technology, IT and communications projects for the Australian Government.

Neelum Dass Associate

Neelum is an associate at Bristows LLP specialising in commercial transactions related to information technology, intellectual property and data privacy. She advises clients in respect of the above and on commercial matters more generally.

Michael Edgar Associate

Michael specialises in commercial transactions related to information technology and data privacy. He has advised on a range of technology agreements.

Katy Gibson Associate

Katy specialises in matters relating to transactional intellectual property, IT and data protection and also advises on general commercial matters.

Ralph Giles Associate

Ralph is an associate in the commercial IP/IT group, specialising in transactional intellectual property and information technology, with experience in data protection matters and a keen interest in AI.

Alexandra Harmer Associate

Alexandra is an associate in the commercial IP team at Bristows. She has a broad IP experience and specialises in advising clients on non-contentious IP matters and general commercial matters across a range of industries, including in the life sciences, technology, film, media, brands and consumer products sectors.

Max Harris Associate

Max is an associate in the Commercial IP/IT team, specialising in commercial transactions related to information technology and intellectual property. He has a particular interest in the technology, media and sports sectors and has recently advised clients on their commercial agreements within the music industry, the use of blockchain technology, and the use of open source software.

Laura Harwood Associate

Laura specialises in IP and technology transactions. While she acts for a broad range of clients on their IP and technology projects, she has a particular focus on and expertise in advising clients in the fashion, luxury goods and retail sectors.

Charlie Hawes Senior Associate

Charlie is a senior associate in the commercial IP/IT team. Charlie advises on a wide range of commercial and regulatory issues relating to software, data privacy and digital communications.

Naomi Hazenberg Senior Associate

Naomi specialises in contentious intellectual property matters. Whilst she advises on a wide range of issues and subject matters, her practice has a particular focus on patent litigation.

Julian Hitchcock Of Counsel

Julian provides practical policy and regulatory advice on emerging biomedical products, services and research to commercial, clinical, academic, charitable, regulatory and governmental clients. He also acts in relation to life science regulatory disputes and international arbitrations.

Louisa Jacobs Associate

Louisa is an associate in the Commercial IP/IT Group. She specialises in transactional and non-contentious intellectual property matters with a particular focus on the life sciences industry, advising on R&D collaborations, IP licences and a range of other commercial arrangements.

Vikram Khurana Senior Associate

Vikram is a commercial technology lawyer, advising clients in a diverse range of sectors on strategic sourcing, technology-based transactions, software, cloud and digital strategy, and issues arising in disruptive technology sectors including AI and digital health.

Ellen Lambrix Senior Associate

Ellen is a senior associate in our commercial IP team. She specialises in advising on non-contentious IP matters, particularly in the life sciences sector. Her clients range from multinational companies to start-ups and research organisations. She has significant experience advising on high value transactions including licensing, R&D collaborations and settlements.

Erik Müürsepp Associate

Erik is a commercial lawyer with a background in life sciences who advises a range of clients in innovative industries on the effective commercialisation of intellectual property and technology assets.

Fiona Nicolson Partner

Fiona is an IP transactional lawyer with many years experience in working with a large range of clients across a number of sectors including life sciences, IT, software, engineering, consumer products and academia.

Rob Powell Associate

Rob operates across the firm’s commercial IP, IT & data privacy practice, offering practical and commercially focused advice and assistance in each area to clients of all sizes, primarily in the tech and media sectors.

Katie Rooth Senior Associate

Katie advises on a wide range of contentious intellectual property matters with a focus on patent litigation.

Helen Rose Senior Associate

Helen specialises in transactions involving intellectual property and information technology. She advises clients for whom intellectual property and technology are a priority across a range of sectors, including life sciences, cloud computing and digital services.

Emily Ryder Associate

Emily works in the Commercial IP team.

Claire Smith Partner

Claire specialises in commercial transactions that involve the development and commercialisation of IP rights and in corporate and investment deals where IP is an important asset. She works with a wide variety of clients, particularly those in the life sciences, technology, media and consumer product sectors.

Pat Treacy Partner

Pat is an experienced, effective and pragmatic competition lawyer with decades of experience of litigation, transactions and competition investigations. She is renowned for her understanding of the competition issues that affect IP rich sectors.

Matthew Warren Partner

Matthew is the head of Bristows’ Commercial IP group and advises on transactions involving the development, exploitation and transfer of intellectual property rights.

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