Ben Woodfield

I am a Partner in Bird & Bird's London-based Commercial Group. My practice principally involves advising clients on complex projects (including major public sector programmes and transformational outsourcings) and on a range of technology matters. More broadly, I advise on a variety of supply and services agreements across a number of sectors, with a particular focus on the Life Sciences & Healthcare and Defence sectors.

I have advised on a number of high value, long term major government programmes and have significant experience in terms of public sector contracting. I advise through all stages of the project lifecycle, from bid support, through the negotiation and contract signature phase, to long-term post contract management support. My extensive experience of providing contract management advice means that I have a clear understanding of the key challenges in delivering complex projects and how these can be addressed, mitigated and navigated both pre and post signature. Many of the projects that I work on have a joint venture element. I also regularly advise on complex outsourcings in the private sector, including business process outsourcings and technology outsourcings.

Aside from my projects focus, I have extensive experience advising suppliers and customers on a wide variety of technology matters, including in relation to software-as-a-service agreements, software development, platform agreements and system implementation. Increasingly, I work on projects involving digital technologies such as AI (including generative AI) and I have particular interest and expertise in relation to Digital Health. I regularly speak on topics such as Contracting for AI and Data.

I trained with Bird & Bird from 2010 onwards and qualified as an associate two years later.

• Acting as lead associate on the restructuring of a leading pathology provider's business, including its arrangements with its NHS customers – a deal which formed the basis of a nomination for Commercial Team of the Year at the British Legal Awards.
• Providing long term contract management advice in relation to a major project for the staged roll-out of upgraded air traffic management services.
• Assisting on the public sector re-tendering of healthcare services to be provided to British servicemen in Germany.
• Advising a well-known restaurant chain on its agreement for the supply of a cloud based point of sale (POS) system.
• Advising a leading NHS Trust on the procurement of its community information system.