Tom Butcher returns to the firm as a Corporate partner, heading up the Middle East TMT and IP practice groups.

A&O has announced today that Tom Butcher will return to the firm as a Corporate partner, heading up the Middle East Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) and Intellectual Property (IP) practice groups, with effect from 20 March 2016.
“I am delighted to welcome Tom Butcher back to our Middle East Corporate practice as a partner,” said Middle East Head of Corporate, Andrew Schoorlemmer.
 
“This is a significant appointment at a time when Middle East governments are investing in technology to develop sustainable knowledge-based, innovation-led economies to diversify from the traditional hydrocarbon industries.
 
“Local and international corporates are also engaging more and more in high value transactions and projects to bring technology to the Middle East and African markets.”
 
Tom returns to A&O after two years with Simmons & Simmons. He is regarded as a TMT specialist, ranked as a “leading individual” in the UAE by Legal 500, and is described as “up and coming” by Chambers Global 2015.
 
He advises governments, regulators and private enterprises on complex commercial and regulatory projects, digital collaborations as well as mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance transactions in the TMT sector. He has particular expertise in strategic outsourcing, technology procurement, data protection and transactional IP.
 
With more than a decade of global and local TMT sector experience and almost seven years in the region, Tom is well-positioned to lead A&O’s Middle East TMT and IP practice, advising private and public sector clients across the TMT, life sciences and healthcare, financial institutions, and energy and infrastructure sectors.