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Jim Ford

Partner

London

Ford Jim
Jim Ford

Partner

London

Jim has a broad commercial practice, focused on technology-rich sectors including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, IT and media.

Jim specialises in non-contentious intellectual property and information technology law. Jim brings strategic and commercial IP and IT advice to M&A, corporate and finance transactions including advising on several joint ventures, long-term collaboration and licensing agreements. Jim also has experience advising on other arrangements for the exploitation of IP, including advertising and sponsorship agreements, and taking security over IP.

Jim is Co-head of Allen & Overy's global Life Sciences sector group and is Chair of A&Out (Allen & Overy's LGBT Network).

Related articles

Heap of medical pills in white, blue and other colors. Pills in plastic package. Concept of healthcare and medicine.

Blog Post: 04 January 2023

Why AI drug discovery deals are different from traditional pharma collaborations

Pharma companies have been working with artificial intelligence (AI) for a decade or more. As the cost and time of bringing a new drug to market continues to rise, pharma companies are increasingly…

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Publications: 20 December 2022

Why AI drug discovery deals are different from traditional pharma collaborations

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News: 18 July 2022

A&O practices and lawyers top rankings in Patent Law

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News: 17 June 2022

Allen & Overy Lawyers named 2022 Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars

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Experience highlights

Office

London

One Bishops Square
London
E1 6AD

View office →

Qualifications

Professional

Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 1998

Academic

BA (Hons), Jurisprudence, Hertford College, Oxford University, 1995

LPC (Distinction), Oxford Institution of Legal Practice, 1996

Other noteworthy experience 

Advising:

  • Asahi Group on IP, transitional services and commercial contracts aspects of its EUR7.30bn acquisition of the Central & Eastern European business of SABMiller by way of auction.
  • Marks and Spencer on its 50/50 joint venture with Ocado Group. Under the terms of the transaction, M&S will acquire a 50% stake in an existing Ocado entity and, from completion, operate Ocado's UK retail business.

Pro bono 

  • Advising Stonewall on the recently passed Turing's Law which pardoned gay men for historic outlawed homosexual acts
  • Advising Queer Britain (the UK's first LGBT+ museum) on sponsorship arrangements

Recognition

Awards & accolades

Jim has been ranked in the OUTstanding top 100 LGBT Executives List for the past three years

Presented by the Financial Times, 2018