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UK

Jimmy Desai

Consultant Solicitor

England & Wales

020 3319 3700

jimmy.desai@keystonelaw.co.uk

“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

Jimmy is a leading commercial lawyer specialising in internet and technology law, AI, data protection, intellectual property, commercial contracts, and IP/IT in M&A transactions.

He has negotiated directly with Elon Musk on one of the largest investments ever made in a UK university start-up and regularly advises large corporates, funded start-ups, and fast-growing technology companies on their most business-critical projects.

Jimmy’s clients have included BT, Royal Mail, AIG, lastminute.com, Google companies, Symantec, Shazam, Surrey Satellite Technology, and leading financial institutions.

A published author of two legal textbooks and a subject-matter expert for LexisNexis on technology law, Jimmy lectures on IP, IT, and media law at the University of London. He has delivered numerous seminars and training sessions for lawyers in major law firms and in-house legal teams and has presented technology and IP programmes on Law Channel TV.

Jimmy holds a first-class Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering, giving him a strong grasp of the technical aspects of modern products and services, and a postgraduate diploma in Intellectual Property Law from the University of Bristol.

He also brings strategic and commercial insight to high-growth businesses, having completed an MBA at London Business School, which included study in London, the UAE, China, and Argentina.

Jimmy is a coach and speaker on entrepreneurship courses at London Business School, UCL, and the University of Westminster, and serves as a member of the qLegal Advisory Board at Queen Mary University of London.

Expertise

Jimmy advises on AI, including software and IP contracts, R&D, licensing, data protection policies and audits, JV agreements, and all aspects of AI in M&A transactions.

Experience

  • Advising an international company on its use of AI in contracts and worldwide data transfers.
  • Advising a newly created AI provider company on terms of sale in relation to its AI software and services.

Jimmy advises on software contracts, website agreements, domain names, IT support and outsourcing, cloud and data centre contracts, and data security policies, covering the full spectrum of internet and technology law.

Experience

  • Undertaken major technology deals for Royal Mail.
  • Advised the National Lottery Commission and drafted and finalised contracts on the technology supporting the National Lottery.
  • Advising Google-related companies on investments and joint ventures

Jimmy advises on trade marks, design rights, copyright, and patents, including licensing and sales, marketing and advertising, social media, and global brand protection through trade mark applications and registrations.

Experience

  • Managing the worldwide brand portfolios of high-profile companies.
  • Advising off shore companies on international consultancy and advisory business contracts
  • Advising numerous clients on trade mark strategies including trade mark applications and oppositions

Jimmy advises on privacy and data protection policies, international transfers, breach management and audits, FOIA requests and contractual provisions, including encryption and AI compliance across diverse sectors and jurisdictions.

Experience

  • Advising numerous organisations on privacy and cookie policies including in relation to AI.
  • Advising numerous organisations on complex data subject access requests.

Jimmy advises on joint ventures, franchising, agency and distribution, sale and purchase, licensing, confidentiality, and shareholders’ agreements, covering the full range of commercial contracting needs.

Experience

  • Acting for many public sector organisations and universities on their procurement of technology and AI systems.
  • Acting for various banks including in relation to the purchase of databases and IT.

Jimmy advises on all aspects of IP and IT in M&A transactions, including due diligence, warranties, indemnities, and agreements required to secure IP and IT ownership.

Experience

  • Acted for high-profile funded start-ups in growth and sales.
  • Advising numerous organisations including banks on the GDPR, AI, IP, and IT aspects of corporate sales and purchases.
  • Advising upon the sale and purchase of high-value domain names.
  • Advising Google-funded companies on various joint venture and collaboration agreements.

Jimmy advises telecoms and technology clients on internet and technology law, AI, data protection, intellectual property, and commercial contracts.

Experience

  • Negotiated face to face with Elon Musk on the sale of a part of Surrey Satellite Technology to SpaceX.
  • Undertaken major deals for BT with deal value in the order of US$200m.
  • Acted on a significant UK joint venture between Intersection (a company with significant investment from Google) and Primesight.

Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.

Recognition

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Technology and Internet Law 2025

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Gaming and Betting 2024

Recommended in Lexology Index for Data: Data Security and Data: Information Technology 2024

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Commercial Contracts 2020

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Commercial Contracts 2018

Jimmy qualified as a solicitor in 1996. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2016, he worked at the following firms:

  • Taylor Wessing
  • DAC Beachcroft
  • Lawrence Graham

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