Jon Moorhouse

Jon advises clients on technology research and development agreements, including both development services and joint development collaboration arrangements.

• Advised on a large joint development collaboration between Shell and HP for wireless seismic sensing.
• Drafted template agreements for Oxa (autonomous vehicle solutions provider) for proof of concept evaluation, base design, and full joint development projects.
• Drafted and negotiated large framework exploration/geosciences Shell research collaboration and sponsorship agreements with Oxford and Heriot Watt Universities.
• Negotiated development and supply agreements for an electric propulsion unit supplier with electric aircraft customers.

Jon advises businesses on the licensing and transfer of technologies and data to or from third parties.

• Drafted and negotiated a land map and data licence for a property data report service provider.
• Prepared a patent and plant licence agreement for a UK wastewater process business.
• Drafted and negotiated a dashboard and survey data subscription agreement for a national financial data services provider.

Jon works with clients on a range of development, licensing, support, and maintenance agreements for software and apps, including software/platform as a service subscription arrangements.

• Drafted and negotiated a software development agreement for an online wills provider with a third-party software developer, to ensure appropriate ownership and control of the IP rights in the software developed, including access to the source code.
• Developed a platform-as-a-service subscription agreement for a financial services provider to offer its app product to business users on a regular subscription basis.
• Drafted a software support and maintenance agreement for use by an electric vehicle automotive OEM for use with a critical steering software supplier.
• Advised AstraZeneca Marketing company on a large software platform development and support agreement.

Jon advises businesses on the licensing of trade marks and brands, including sponsorship and franchise arrangements.

• Drafted and negotiated a Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders sponsorship agreement for a British international motor show.
• Advised Moto GP motorbike racing team on sponsorship and licensing arrangements with Moto GP organisers.
• Advised a luxury lifestyle management service provider on an international franchise agreement.
• Drafted a trade mark assignment for a London restaurant.

Jon advises businesses on their manufacture and supply arrangements from both goods/services supplier and customer perspectives.

• Drafted a template framework manufacture and supply agreement for an electric vehicle ‘OEM’ to use with suppliers to cover development/prototype services, production lifetime and aftermarket sales and services.
• Negotiated a manufacture and supply agreement for a children’s toy and equipment manufacturer with a United States customer.
• Advised a coffee manufacturer on its logistics (warehousing, delivery), manufacture and sales agreements with upstream suppliers and with customers.
• Negotiated a framework manufacture and supply agreement for an electric vehicle ‘OEM’ for development, production, and aftermarket with a large number of suppliers, with potential spend in at least one case of >EUR500M over full contract lifetime.

Jon carries out business IP reviews and advises on IP policy, governance, compliance, and training programmes.

• Advised Royal College of Music on a refresh of its IP rights policy.
• Project lead for creation and roll-out of Shell’s group-wide global online IP (brand & technology) compliance training programme.
• Helped scope and implement a Shell IP monetisation and commercialisation pilot and subsequent technology licensing programme.
• Carried out an IP rights review for an online divorce service provider.

Jon advises on a wide range of commercial contracts, from essential agreements for start-ups to intra-group arrangements for international groups.

• Prepared an IP assignment to a holding company and intra-group licence agreements (trade mark and copyright) for an international payment processing service provider.
• Member of Shell intra-group cost-sharing advisory team for several years, advising on intragroup corporate function services and IP licensing and ownership arrangements.
• Prepared a customer-facing goods and services sales contract, along with freelancer/content contributor contractor terms and conditions for a new creative services agency.
• Prepared privacy policy, website terms and conditions, customer-facing terms and conditions, and building service provider terms and conditions for an online architect servicer provider.
• Advised a hardware and software supplier on a national supply contract with Post Office.

Jon advises on the commercial, technology, and IP due diligence and contractual aspects of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital investments and joint operating arrangements.

• Provided IP and commercial input to purchase of an insolvent crypto-mining business.
• Assisted Shell future energies series B and C investments in Glasspoint Solar and associated joint development and option agreements.
• Provided IP and commercial input to sale of an international procurement intelligence platform, and associated market reseller agreement amendments.
• Coordinated IP due diligence, advice and contract negotiation for numerous Shell Ventures investments in digital, New Energies, and oil & gas third-party technology companies or spin-outs.

Jon advises OEMs and suppliers on arrangements for the development, manufacture, and supply of components, software, and services, and their integration across the supply chain, for automotive vehicles, in particular electric and autonomous vehicles.

• Provided commercial legal support for a luxury electric SUV OEM, first as sole in-house adviser and then as part of a growing legal team.
• Supported the negotiation of a large number of framework agreements on behalf of an OEM with tier 1 and tier 2 suppliers for the supply of components, development, and aftersales services, and acquisition of manufacturing tooling.
• Advised on a large number of software and support service agreements on behalf of an OEM with tier 1 and tier 2 suppliers for a range of products and services to be incorporated in electric vehicles or support vehicle design and manufacture.
• Provided fractional general counsel support for innovative automotive electric motor manufacturer YASA Limited, an Oxford University spin-out start-up, before and during acquisition by Mercedes to support Mercedes’ transition to electric vehicles.
• Assisted the negotiation of development and collaboration agreements between an autonomous vehicle software developer and autonomous vehicle hardware manufacturers and suppliers.
• Supported an autonomous vehicle software developer on the implementation of a governance and compliance programme review and update.
• Advised Moto GP motorbike racing team on sponsorship and licensing arrangements with Moto GP organisers.
• Drafted and negotiated a Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders sponsorship agreement for a British international motor show.

Jon advises on technology development and manufacture and supply arrangements between aerospace suppliers and aircraft OEMs (in particular, electric vertical take-off and landing, fixed wing, helicopters).

• Provided fractional general counsel support for electric aerospace electric propulsion unit manufacturer Evolito Limited (a spin-out from YASA Limited, an Oxford University spin-out start-up acquired by Mercedes).
• Supported negotiation of technology development and supply agreements with electric aerospace OEM customers for the sale of type certified electric propulsion units.
• Advised on an air ambulance support services agreement for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Charitable Trust.
• Participate in Evolito Limited quarterly aerospace electric propulsion unit manufacturer safety assurance board meetings to ensure compliance with UK and international aerospace regulations concerning safety and airworthiness.
• Developed a framework purchase agreement for the purchase of components for manufacture of aerospace electric propulsion units.
• Negotiation of participation in Aerospace Technology Institute-funded R&D for an electric motor-powered commercial aircraft taxi project.

Jon helps renewables and green tech companies on their contracts with customers and suppliers to support the commercialisation of their technology.

• Prepared a power purchase agreement for a solar panel installation services company.
• Drafted a customer agreement for a project carbon offset management services start-up.
• Advised a start-up on IP licensing and services agreements to commercialise its technology to transform wastewater into green hydrogen and bio-methanol to decarbonise shipping and chemicals.
• Advised an environmentally friendly non-synthetic nitrogen fertiliser developer on strains revenue sharing and supply agreements.
• Coordinated IP due diligence, advice, and contract negotiation for numerous Shell Ventures investments in New Energies third-party technology companies and spin-outs.

Jon advises on a wide range of intellectual property, commercial, and corporate matters, with a keen focus on the energy sector, having advised Shell for over a decade as its Senior Legal Counsel.

• Supported the negotiation of an airport fuel depot facility operational, management, engineering, and maintenance services contract for a UK energy services company.
• Advised on a pipeline access agreement for a UK energy services company.
• Supported Shell Ventures on identifying IP risks and opportunities when setting up multiple large strategic investment funds.
• Coordinated IP due diligence, advice, and contract negotiation for numerous Shell Ventures investments in digital, New Energies, and oil & gas third-party technology companies or spin-outs.
• Advised on IP/technology sharing, licensing, and secondment arrangements for large-scale enhanced technical services agreements between Shell and Kuwait Oil Company for three new oil and gas fields.
• Advised Shell on a cross-border oil well patent entitlement dispute in Hague first-instance court and prolonged appeal settlement negotiations.
• Assisted with the preparation and implementation of IP strategies for the protection and commercialisation of various Shell technologies to support commercial and business objectives.

Jon advises clients in the oil & gas sector on a wide range of intellectual property, commercial, and corporate contractual matters.

• Supported the negotiation of an airport fuel depot facility operational, management, engineering, and maintenance services contract for a UK energy services company.
• Advised on a pipeline access agreement for a UK energy services company.
• Coordinated IP due diligence, advice, and contract negotiation for numerous Shell Ventures investments in digital, New Energies, and oil & gas third-party technology companies or spin-outs.
• Advised on IP/technology sharing, licensing, and secondment arrangements for large-scale enhanced technical services agreements between Shell and Kuwait Oil Company for three new oil and gas fields.
• Advised Shell on a cross-border oil well patent entitlement dispute in Hague first-instance court and prolonged appeal settlement negotiations.
• Advised on a National Grid services contract.

Jon has worked as senior counsel as part of large in-house teams, and also in fractional GC roles. He has expert experience of providing in-house counsel support on intellectual property, corporate contractual, and commercial matters.

• Senior legal counsel at Shell for over ten years.
• Part-time general counsel for Oxford University spin-out YASA Ltd, an electric motor company that was acquired by Mercedes.
• Part-time general counsel for Evolito Limited, an aerospace electric propulsion unit supplier for electric aircraft.
• Secondment to AstraZeneca in-house commercial legal team.
• Secondment to British Telecom in-house IP legal team.

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Power 2023

Received a Special Recognition Award from Shell’s Chief Technology Officer in 2017 for contribution working with senior executives to embed IP awareness and ways of working in a group-wide technology delivery model refresh

Member of the Licensing Executives Society