BCLP has hired three partners in London in recent days, adding Rafi Azim-Khan from Crowell & Moring, Caroline Noblet from Squire Patton Boggs and Sian Williams from Baker Botts to its technology, employment and corporate practices respectively.
Azim-Khan, whose hire was announced on Monday (10 August), has been appointed global co-leader of the transatlantic firm’s digital transformation and emerging technology offering. He will work from London and San Francisco, collaborating with BCLP’s intellectual property practice and its sports, media and entertainment sector group.
He joins from Crowell & Moring, where he led the digital law practice and handled AI, emerging technology, autonomous vehicles, data privacy and advertising technology matters. He was also co-chair of Crowell’s global advertising and media practice.
His practice covers artificial intelligence, data protection, autonomous technology, cybersecurity, digital regulation, e-commerce, advertising, intellectual property and brand protection. He advises on product launches, regulatory change, compliance projects, advertising disputes, sponsorships and cross-border IP matters across sectors including technology, defence, transport and sport.
Noblet joins from Squire Patton Boggs after more than 30 years, most recently as global head of employment, making partner in 2014. She advises multinational organisations on contentious and non-contentious matters, including cross-border investigations, disputes and global compliance.
Her arrival on 3 August coincided with Paul Sands joining BCLP’s London employment team as counsel from Eversheds Sutherland and Bradley Houlston returning to the firm as counsel from Carey Olsen in Bermuda.
Williams joined the firm on 4 August from Baker Botts, where she became a partner in March 2021, having arrived as special counsel from Gibson Dunn in October 2020. She has more than 15 years’ experience advising on high-value, complex cross-border transactions.
She is the second partner to join BCLP’s London corporate and finance department within a month, following the arrival of finance partner Jérémie Bismuth from Gide.
Azim-Khan’s arrival at BCLP, meanwhile, provides its technology practice with a link between European clients and Silicon Valley, while linking specialist digital advice with the firm’s wider sector offering, as other law firms also expand their capabilities in that area.
“Joining BCLP offers an exceptional opportunity to help lead and further grow a global technology practice,” said Azim-Khan.
“The firm’s excellent technology team, combined with its superb capabilities across sports, media, IP, marketing and other areas, creates a compelling platform for my practice. I am particularly excited by the opportunity to leverage the firm’s transatlantic strengths to support clients on key strategic cross-border matters.”
Carol Osborne, who leads the London transactional team, said: “Rafi is a global leader in numerous complementary fields, with decades of international cutting-edge experience in areas that are synergistic with our firm’s strengths. His emerging tech, AI and data knowledge, as well as his expertise in IP, sports, marketing and regulatory matters, will contribute to key sectors for the firm and be of high value to our clients.”
Other recent London lateral moves include real estate private equity partner Claibourne Harrison joining BCLP from Gibson Dunn on 9 March and international arbitration partner Ania Farren returning to the firm from Fieldfisher on 1 June. The latter move coincided with the departure of former BCLP global international arbitration co-leader George Burn to CMS.
Azim-Khan’s arrival comes amid investment by rivals in technology-related capabilities, with Pinsent Masons hiring from BCLP itself earlier this year, with the arrival of Hayley Harris as chief knowledge and AI adoption officer in June.
On 10 August, DAC Beachcroft recruited three cyber insurance and digital risk partners from RPC, while earlier this month Bird & Bird added to its own legal transformation offering with a four-strong team from EY.
Email your news and story ideas to: [email protected]
