Browne Jacobson has hired a five-lawyer technology team from EY Law in London to bolster its tech and digital capabilities.

The team is led by Rowan Armstrong and Alex Mason, who joined EY Law in 2021 as partners to helm its financial services commercial and technology law team. They are accompanied by Duncan McMeekin (legal director), Ben Littlejohns (senior associate) and Carmen Safavi (Associate), bringing extensive expertise in technology, commercial contracts, joint ventures, sourcing contracts, operational risk, contractual compliance and due diligence concerning trading, technology and intellectual property.

The strategic hire is set against a backdrop of global tech investment projected to reach $5.1tr this year, fuelled by significant advancements in AI and automation technologies.

Browne Jacobson launched a new office in Dublin in 2022 to bridge operations between the UK and Ireland and enhance its capacity to support complex, large-scale technology transactions and digital transformations across borders.

Richard Medd, Browne Jacobson’s managing partner, said: “Over the last few years, we’ve sought to expand and diversify our offering on technology and digital matters to provide clients the increasingly sophisticated support they require within their industry sectors.”

Declan Cushley, head of Browne Jacobson’s London office and leader of the firm’s corporate sector strategy, added: “The addition of the team from EY is a landmark step for our technology and financial services offering in London,” where the digital transformation journey of many global businesses started, he explained.

“With our newly expanded team, we look forward to helping our clients navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities with technology, AI, data and IT governance,” Cushley said.

Armstrong’s career history includes tenures at Travers Smith, where he spent eight years as a senior associate, DAC Beachcroft and New Zealand firm Russell McVeagh, while Mason had roles at IBM as senior legal counsel for nearly seven years, 13 years at Accenture, alongside consultant roles at Clifford Chance, Baker McKenzie and Baker Botts.

Anthony Nagle spearheads Browne Jacobson’s technology practice, focusing on IP, data, corporate and commercial technology, and digital disruption. The firm’s financial services and insurance practice, led by Jonathan Newbold, will greatly benefit from the newly added commercial technology expertise. The new arrivals will help support a diverse client base, including insurers, financial services businesses, healthcare providers and public sector entities.

The expansion shows the firm’s commitment to working with businesses on their digital resilience and operational compliance strategies. As the recent cyber incident affecting Brick Court Chambers shows, such issues are paramount for businesses globally.

Herbert Smith Freehills also announced its an enhancement of its digital legal services earlier this month. And in December, Quinn Emanuel hired Gemma Anderson, a technology disputes partner from Morrison & Foerster in London.