Ian is a technology transactional lawyer with a focus on IT, PropTech, blockchain and digital assets such as cryptocurrencies. He advises on non-contentious commercial, outsourcing and privacy issues and coordinates the firm’s international blockchain practice.

Ian's expertise lies where the real estate and financial services sectors meet the digital world, in particular relating to Digitalisation, Urban Dynamics and Smart Cities. He has worked in Osborne Clarke’s Silicon Valley offices, helping fast-growth tech clients with their global expansion, which he continues to do from the UK.

Ian has also spent a lot of time in-house, delivering pragmatic advice to key business stakeholders. Most recently, he has acted as interim European Head of Legal for CoStar, a leading PropTech business. Other secondments have involved assisting Vodafone with distribution arrangements and regulatory compliance, News UK with GDPR compliance, The AA with technology agreements for its insurance underwriting business, and Heathrow Airport with high value, regulated procurement contracts.

He frequently speaks and writes about blockchain, cryptoassets and technology contracts. Ian qualified in 2011 and joined Osborne Clarke in 2013.

Helping you succeed in tomorrow's world

My work in the PropTech, blockchain and crypto industries means that I'm advising at the cutting edge of the intersection of the physical and digital worlds. This often involves applying creative thinking to navigate completely new and uncharted commercial and legal issues.

Work

Vodafone

Drafting and negotiating a key reseller agreement with Dixons Carphone for the distribution of Vodafone's airtime services.

KPMG

Advising a global accountancy practice on a master data management agreement and related software licences for a key business transformation project.

Element Ventures

Advising a VC fund on its strategic $9m Series A investment in Coincover, an insurance-backed cryptocurrency protection platform. Read more>

Reckitt Benckiser

Drafting and negotiating an agreement for the supply of pharmaceutical products on behalf of a multinational consumer goods business, including related financial guarantees, and co-ordinating advice on Indian regulatory aspects.

Cryptocurrency business

Drafting contracts with partners, exchanges and customers to facilitate cryptocurrency donations to charity projects.

CoStar

Supporting the leading provider of Commercial Real Estate data with agreements relating to the procurement and licensing of data for its core product offering, regulatory compliance relating to the storage and processing of personal data, and international expansion.

John Laing

Advising a leading infrastructure projects business on the outsourcing of its entire IT needs under a managed services agreement with CDW, a global technology provider.

Associated British Ports

Advising a leading ports group on a major data centre and IT systems outsourcing agreement with Timico, a UK-based IT managed services provider.

M&G

Advising a global real estate investment manager on an agreement with a broadband, networks and utilities provider for the provision of managed broadband services at a number of developments.

Davies Group

Supporting a specialist professional services and technology firm with a critical IT outsourcing agreement, including data centre colocation services.

Vodafone

Advising Vodafone on its MVNO agreement with Virgin Media, including 5G.

Energy supply business

Assisting a fuel wholesale and trading business with the deployment of a blockchain-based commodities trading platform.

Cryptocurrency business

Drafting contracts with partners, exchanges and customers to facilitate cryptocurrency donations to charity projects.

Financial services business

Preparing a template agreement for a global technology and financial services provider for the processing of cryptocurrency transactions connected with card issuing and BIN sponsorship programs.

Technology provider

Drafting and negotiating a data/IP sharing agreement on behalf of a global technology supplier related to the development of an AI-powered cybersecurity product in the travel sector.

Accountancy firm

Advising a global accountancy practice on a master data management agreement and related software licences for a key business transformation project.

Consumer goods business

Drafting and negotiating an agreement for the supply of pharmaceutical products on behalf of a multinational consumer goods business, including related financial guarantees, and co-ordinating advice on Indian regulatory aspects.

Expertise

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