Joanne is a commercial lawyer, focusing on intellectual property and technology. With over 14 years in practice, she has been a partner at Penningtons since 2007. She joined from a niche City technology firm, following qualification and practice at one of the leading intellectual property teams in Malaysia. Joanne has in-depth commercial experience, including through time spent on secondments with telecoms suppliers (one with a FTSE 250 company). Clients praise her 'ability to explain something in plain English' and her 'sound, clear advice'.
Joanne advises clients on commercial contractual issues and on the exploitation of intellectual property, including software, trade mark, patent and know-how. She has advised a wide range of clients on procurement and outsourcing contracts, licensing and development agreements, manufacturing, distribution and agency agreements. She also advises on brand protection, domain name disputes, e-commerce and data protection. Joanne is a member of the Society for Computers and Law and the International Trademark Association. She is a contributing author to the UK chapter of Media, Advertising and Entertainment Laws Throughout the World and the Multilaw international Software Law Survey.
She jointly heads Penningtons' cross divisional technology sector group.