John is a partner and joint head of the Technology and Commercial Contracts Group at Matheson Ormsby Prentice. He has extensive experience in advising both suppliers and customers in relation to their commercial arrangements, including their technology transactions.

On the technology side of John’s practice, he advises his clients in relation to systems implementations, software development, technology transfer arrangements, IT outsourcing and services arrangements, data hosting, licensing (including maintenance and support), re-seller arrangements, data protection, intellectual property and e-business. On the commercial contracts side of John’s practice he typically advises in relation to agency, distribution, franchising, manufacturing, business process outsourcing, facilities management and partnering agreements.

Prior to joining Matheson Ormsby Prentice John worked at a leading London City firm where he gained significant experience of large-scale technology and commercial transactions.

John’s recent transactions include advising Xerox in relation to the outsourcing of its call centre activities – the largest outsourcing in Ireland to date, advising a specialist food manufacturer in relation to a substantial outsourcing of production of one of its core products; advising various customers in relation to their procurement and implementation of SAP, LIMS and other systems implementation projects; acting for a large manufacturer on their European distribution and agency arrangements; acting for Champion Products Europe in its distribution arrangements with JJB Sports plc; advising AIB plc, throughout 2006 and 2007, on its market leading data centre relocation and migration arrangements and related fibre arrangements; advising An Post in its ground breaking joint venture with Fortis Bank in relation to their financial product distribution arrangements and IT systems integration; advising a supplier of interactive television advertising technology and IPTV technology in relation to a number of arrangements with large UK broadcasters; advising a large retailer relating to a significant IT outsourcing; advising two Irish banks on a number of intra-group outsourcing arrangements; advising a life assurance company on all aspects of the first major life and pensions administration outsourcing in the UK and Irish markets.

John has been reccommended by Information Technology: Chambers Europe 2010, who say that he “really produces the goods for his clients.” John is praised as a straightforward and commercially minded lawyer who, in the words of one client, “understands the requirements of our business and gives us advice in plain, jargon-free English.” Chambers Europe 2008 states that John “understands where the client is coming from and is keen to get the deal done,” say sources.

John is a frequent public speaker and regularly presents at seminars in relation to public procurement and in relation to outsourcing and managed services, who has been published in legal and business journals in the UK and Ireland. He is a member of the Law Society of Ireland, a member of the Law Society of England and Wales (non-practising), a member of the Society for Computers and Law and a member of the UK National Outsourcing Association.

John was educated at University College Cork (BA) and the University of Wales (LLB).