Coup as DLA Piper's global co-head of Commercial and Franchise joins Freeths' London office

Commercial Contracts and Franchise heavyweight Iain Bowler has joined national law firm, Freeths, in their London office, from DLA Piper.

 

Iain will play a key role in the firm's Commercial Group which comprises some 35 commercial, technology, outsourcing, projects, data privacy and franchise lawyers across Freeths' 13 offices.  Iain will initially work alongside Chris Freeston in developing the firm's Commercial offering.  From 1 October, Freeths will form a separate Banking and Finance Group with Chris Freeston as National Head, at which point, Iain will become National Head of Commercial. From 2012, Iain was global co-head of DLA Piper's Commercial Contracts and Franchise Groups, during which time the Commercial Contracts Group became a tier 1 practice in the UK and globally.  In November 2018, a team led by Iain, which advised a client on a £600 million digital rail project, won the British Legal Awards Commercial Team of the Year Award. Iain has extensive experience in all types of commercial contracts and franchise work, as well as joint ventures and strategic partnering arrangements. Managing Partner of Freeths' London office, Philippa Dempster, commented on the appointment: “Iain's appointment and global experience is a coup for Freeths as it means our clients can benefit from his blue chip expertise, alongside a comprehensive commercial services offer to meet their varied needs.” Iain is recognised as a "leading individual" for commercial and franchise work in legal guides, Chambers and Legal 500 and is also independently rated as an "Acritas Star Lawyer".

 

Iain said: "I am thrilled to have joined Freeths at such an exciting time.  The firm has grown rapidly over the past 10 years and has ambition to become a UK top 10 firm.  There is a solid bedrock in the Commercial Group which gives us a great opportunity to develop the expertise within the national commercial team, and to build the size and credibility of that team as one of the UK's leading national commercial practices."

Commercial Contracts and Franchise heavyweight Iain Bowler joins Freeths LLP