Browne Jacobson expands growing North West commercial practice with two new appointments

National law firm Browne Jacobson has bolstered its commercial offering in the North West with the appointment of specialist commercial contracts and IP partner, Cat Driscoll (née Harrison) and Phil Singleton who will be taking up a position as commercial contracts associate in the firm’s Manchester office.

Both appointments will support the further growth ambitions of the firm’s wider commercial practice which has also recently welcomed four more associates into its Birmingham, London and Nottingham offices. The fresh new talent will strengthen its automotive, TMT, retail, fashion and consumer sector offering both regionally and nationally.

Cat, who joins the firm from DWF, brings with her over 11 years' experience acting on significant commercial contracts, IP, tech and e-commerce matters across a broad range of sectors including tech, retail, food manufacturing, oil and gas, education and public services.

Cat joins the firm’s leading IP practice which is recognised by Chambers as “a worthy alternative to a big City law firm” and considered by Legal 500 as “client focused, client driven”. The team are also ranked in IAM Patent 1000, World Trademark Review and Managing Intellectual Property. The national 21-strong practice has extensive experience spanning the whole range of IP rights. They regularly advise a premium client portfolio made up of some of the world’s leading global household names and luxury brands including Mace Group, Lotus Cars and PZ Cussons.

Phil joins the firm having trained in the Co-op Group’s in-house legal team. He specialises in drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, as well as advising on data protection and privacy issues. Phil will work in the firm’s specialist commercial contracts team which advises an extensive portfolio of blue-chip multi-nationals, central government, local authorities, charities, health trusts, owner managed businesses and small and medium sized enterprises on a wide range of commercial issues.

Declan Cushley, partner and head of IP and the commercial group at Browne Jacobson commented: “I am pleased to welcome Cat and Phil to our growing practice. Cat is a first class strategically minded IP lawyer with extensive sector expertise in tech, food, retail, fashion and consumer which will be a fantastic boost to our current offering and closely aligns with our firm’s strategic objectives for sector growth.

“Phil has a broad range of experience and exposure to the private sector. He will bring a refreshing approach to our commercial contracts client base.

“Both key appointments demonstrate our commitment to investing and developing new talent, expanding our retail, fashion and consumer credentials and further building our commercial profile and our team in the North West in the near future.”

Cat Driscoll (née Harrison) added: “Browne Jacobson have a strong reputation for providing excellent and pragmatic commercial advice to a really impressive client portfolio and for having a truly vibrant people culture. I am looking forward to supporting the further growth of the commercial offering in the North West.”   

Phil Singleton said: “Browne Jacobson is known for combining a heavyweight client base with a genuine values-led approach, and for delivering commercial advice on highly complex matters. The firm has ambitious plans both locally and nationally, and I am looking forward to becoming part of that offering, growing as a lawyer and supporting the future needs of our business and our clients.”