Browne Jacobson appoints government specialist into growing commercial practice

National law firm Browne Jacobson has strengthened its IT transactions offering to clients with the appointment of commercial partner, Khalid Ghazi, to support Anthony Nagle who heads up the IT and complex transactions team in its London office.

Khalid’s appointment will support the further growth of the firm’s IT and complex transactions team and broaden out the firm’s central government credentials.

Khalid joins from the Commercial Law Group (CLGp) of the Government Legal Department (GLD), the in-house commercial legal advisers to Government, where he was a Senior Lawyer. He specialises in major projects for government departments, with a particular focus on technology transactions involving complex implementations and transformations, including outsourcing (ITO and BPO), as well as advising government on associated issues such as procurement, and on novel and cutting edge matters such as Artificial Intelligence and its regulation. He brings with him deep commercial projects and government experience, having spent over 10 years inside Government during a period which encompassed the financial crisis and austerity, EU exit and the Covid-19 pandemic. During that time, Khalid advised a broad range of government departments, executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies on some of their most complex and demanding commercial projects, programmes and issues. Prior to joining the GLD, Khalid trained and worked at international law firms Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and McCarthy Tetrault.

Browne Jacobson’s IT and complex projects team is a specialist division within its national Commercial Group which offers a full range of contract services and has particular expertise in advising on: digital transformation, tech & data, IT and outsourcing contracts, restructurings and reorganisations, implementation and transformation of “critical services” arrangements, procurement and sales agreements, consumer contracts, IP and IT licences, data and cyber, agency and distribution agreements, franchising, confidentiality and sponsorship agreements, online trading, gaming and competition advice, along with advising on the adoption and use of cutting edge technologies such as AI, blockchain, cloud, apps and APIs. Their client portfolio includes: blue chip multi-nationals, central government, local authorities, charities, health trusts, owner managed businesses and small and medium sized enterprises.

Khalid will also work closely with Browne Jacobson’s specialist public procurement team who work with public bodies and bidders including central government departments, local authorities, non-departmental public bodies and NHS organisations. They advise on all aspects of the public procurement regime including transactional procurement matters and their intersection with state aid rules, and challenges arising from the bidding process as well as service delivery models and shared services arrangements.

Partner Anthony Nagle who leads the IT and complex transactions team at Browne Jacobson commented on the appointment: “Khalid is a very well-respected and highly talented commercial lawyer whose experience of working at the CLGp will prove to be invaluable and a significant asset to our client base.

“His extensive knowledge on the complexities around commercial contracts / projects and his ability to offer high quality, tailored and pragmatic legal advice will be a perfect fit for the firm and its strategic objectives.”

Peter Ware, partner and head of the firm’s government sector said: “I am delighted to welcome Khalid to the firm. He is a really dynamic lawyer whose appointment will boost our credentials in both practice areas and reaffirms Browne Jacobson’s commitment to offer joined up, exceptional client service and reflects our confidence to continue to invest and grow our practice areas.”

Khalid Ghazi added: “Having worked with many law firms in my government career, I have long been impressed by Browne Jacobson’s performance on the most difficult, demanding and complex transactions where they have consistently provided a premium service and proved themselves to be top tier for this kind of work. This put them at the top of my list and I am very pleased to be joining the firm as it builds and develops its practice in London”.