James Pearson

I am a specialist transactional IP lawyer based in our Intellectual Property practice in London where I work as a Partner.

As a transactional IP lawyer, I regularly advise clients in relation to the ownership and transfer of intellectual property rights, both in the context of stand alone transactions or as part of complex corporate matters including international M&A, corporate re-organisations, spin-outs, investment transactions, and joint ventures.

I also advise on stand-alone, high value IP transactions in relation to the commercialisation and exploitation of intellectual property rights, including the assignment or licensing of IP, with particular focus on software, patents, and trade marks.

I have also been seconded to the in-house legal team at UK telecoms brand EE, where I advised the business on a range of consumer, media, marketing and advertising law issues, as well as on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious intellectual property matters, largely in relation to trade marks, passing off and copyright.

I joined Bird & Bird in 2013, qualified into our Intellectual Property team in 2015.

• Advised Office Depot on the sale of its European business with revenues of circa €2 billion to the Aurelius Group.
• Advised FMC Corporation on the US$85 million divestment of its European cereal broadleaf herbicide portfolio.
• Advised Gates Corporation on its acquisition of the assets of a flexible hosing and couplings supplier.