Jimmy is a commercial lawyer specialising in Internet and technology law, data protection, intellectual property, commercial contracts, and IP/IT in M&A transactions. Jimmy has previously advised BT, Royal Mail, AIG, lastminute.com, Google companies, Shazam, and Surrey Satellite Technology. He acts for funded and fast-growing Internet start-up companies and has specifically negotiated in person with Elon Musk for a major investment in a fast-growing UK company.
Jimmy is a published author of legal textbooks and a subject-matter expert for LexisNexis on Technology law. He lectures on IP and media law at the University of London and has presented IP and IT talks at numerous conferences. He has also presented technology and IP law programmes on Law Channel TV.
Jimmy’s first-class Master’s degree in electronic engineering helps him understand technical issues regarding technology goods and services. He is also able to provide valuable legal and strategic input into start-ups and fast-growing businesses, having undertaken an MBA at London Business School.
Jimmy is a coach for start-ups on entrepreneurial courses at London Business School, UCL and the University of Westminster. He is also a member of the qLegal Advisory Board at Queen Mary University of London.
Jimmy is an outstanding lawyer who has helped me on numerous occasions. Great attention to detail and good implementation in real deals. An excellent member of any team.
Senior VP, Hewlett Packard
Expertise
Technology and Internet Law
- Software-related contracts including R&D, licensing, distribution, and sales
- Website terms and conditions and all contracts relating to websites
- Domain names
- IT support, hosting, and maintenance
- Data centre contracts
- Cloud-related contracts
- Data security policies
- IT outsourcing contracts
Intellectual Property
- Trade marks, design rights, copyright, and patents
- IP-related commercial contracts including IP licensing and sales
- Marketing and advertising law
- Social media law
- Brand protection (including trade mark applications and registrations worldwide)
Data Protection and Freedom of Information
- Privacy and data protection policies (including data encryption)
- International transfers of data
- Data protection breaches and action plans
- Data protection audits
- Advising upon FOIA requests and also FOIA contractual provisions
Contracts
- JV Agreements
- Franchising agreements
- Agency, distribution and reseller agreements
- Sale and purchase agreements
- Licensing agreements
- Confidentiality agreements
- Shareholders’ agreements
Corporate Transactions
- All aspects of IP and IT law on M&A transactions
- Negotiation of IP & IT warranties and indemnities
- IP & IT due diligence and reports
- Advising upon IP agreements necessary to secure ownership of IP in M&A transactions
Experience
- Negotiating face to face with Elon Musk (the co-founder of paypal and owner of Tesla motors) on the sale of a part of Surrey Satellite Technology to SpaceX
- Undertaking major deals for BT with deal value in the order of US$200m
- Undertaking major technology deals for Royal Mail
- Advising the National Lottery Commission and drafting and finalising contracts on the technology supporting the National Lottery
- Acting for high-profile funded start-ups in growth and sales
- Managing the brand portfolios of high-profile companies
- Acted on a significant UK joint venture between Intersection (a company with significant investment from Google) and Primesight.
- Advised an Isle of Man-based international consultancy and advisory business on its rebranding and new terms and conditions.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised by The Legal 500 2024 for Gaming and Betting
Recommended by Who’s Who Legal 2024 for Data: Data Security and Data: Information Technology
Ranked as one of the top 40 technology and commercial lawyers in the UK in the Who’s Who of Technology and Commercial lawyers for five consecutive years.
Recognised by The Legal 500 2020 for Commercial Contracts
Recognised by The Legal 500 2018 for Commercial Contracts
Jimmy Desai is recognised by The Legal 500 2017
Career
Jimmy qualified as a solicitor in 1996. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2016, he worked at the following firms:
- Taylor Wessing
- DAC Beachcroft
- Tarlo Lyons
- Lawrence Graham