Drawing on my previous career experience in the technology industry as well a diverse range of client secondments, I work in our London office and provide our clients with practical, commercial legal advice.
I advise clients operating in all industry sectors but I tend to focus in particular on advising (on both the customer and supplier side) in the technology, retail and financial services sectors.
Technology and its disruptive effects play a key role in nearly every aspect of my work and I regularly advise household brands, financial services providers and technology firms on their higher profile projects, including more traditional systems integration and software development projects, cloud-based initiatives, data 'monetisation' and, increasingly, the legal issues that arise from deploying newer emerging technologies (such as big data, AI and blockchain).
Before I became a lawyer and joined Bird & Bird in 2006, I lived in Beijing for 3 years and I worked as a technology professional helping a number of local Chinese and multi-national companies and foreign government customers implement various online software development projects. I speak conversational Mandarin and maintain strong links with China, including with the lawyers in our various Chinese offices.
Since joining Bird & Bird I have spent time on secondment including sports governing bodies, a central government department, an international technology services provider and a 'Big 4' professional services firm.
I also write on the topic of technology and law generally, including on the legal issues that arise in retail technology and I am the author of the e-commerce and franchising chapter of the Franchise Law Review.