Biography
Barry Fishley is the head of Weil’s London Technology & IP Transactions practice and a partner in the firm’s Privacy & Cybersecurity group. Barry leads Weil’s London data practice, advising on the full range of complex legal issues relating to data, including IP protection, cyber security and data privacy matters, particularly in the context of deals, crises, investigations, and new data uses and analytics including AI. He has extensive experience of advising major international companies and private equity funds on a range of issues including the technology and IP aspects of: private equity and M&A transactions; acquisitions and divestitures; outsourcings (including IT and BPOs); international licensing arrangements; strategic alliances, and; general commercial matters (including manufacturing, supply, distribution and agency arrangements).
Barry is recommended by Legal 500 UK, which also describes his practice as showing “cutting-edge knowledge and keen commercial sense.” Barry is a frequent speaker on technology, IP, data privacy and cyber security issues. Recent examples include a webinar on privacy considerations within the context of international M&A and PE deals. He is also an active member of the City of London Law Society Data Committee.
Representative experience includes advising:
- Campbell Soup Company in its sales of all EMEA operations of Kettle Foods, Yellow Chips and Garden Fresh Gourmet
- TPG Growth on its investment in Onfido
- Advent International on its take-private and subsequent sale of Laird Performance Materials
- Cobham (a portfolio company of Advent International) on the: (a) $2.83bn carve-out and sale of its Mission Systems division to Eaton Corporation plc; (b) $965m carve-out and sale of its Aerospace Connectivity division to TransDigm Group Inc.; and (c) carve-out and sale of its Aviation Services UK division to Draken International (a portfolio company of Blackstone)
- Advent International on the acquisition of Transaction Services Group
- Bain Capital in its acquisition of a 60% stake in Kantar Media
- Froneri International Limited (a joint venture between Nestlé and PAI Partners) in its $4 billion acquisition of Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Holdings, Inc.
- OMERS Private Equity Inc. in its acquisition of Alexander Mann Solutions
- SoftBank Vision Fund in its Series E minority investment in GetYourGuide
- TCV as lead investor in a $500 million Series D funding round for Revolut
- Advent International and Bain Capital on the London IPO of Worldpay
- NewVoiceMedia on its sale to Vonage Holdings Corp.
- General Atlantic on its investments in Property Finder and Depop
- Alibaba on the acquisition of Daraz from Rocket Internet
- Synopsys International Limited in its acquisitions of software providers Simpleware Limited and Gold Standard Simulations
- HgCapital in IP ownership issues in respect of bespoke software and use of open-source software in connection with its acquisition of Citation Limited
- Facebook in a wide range of e-commerce transactional and advisory matters in the UK, including its landmark $16 billion acquisition of WhatsApp, the cross-platform mobile messaging application provider
- eBay Inc. in its acquisition of Shutl Limited, a developer and operator of a SaaS platform that enables immediate delivery of online shopping via local same-day courier companies
- Yahoo! Inc. on the acquisition of Summly Limited, a UK iPhone applications developer
- Ardian on the acquisition of Envision, a leading medical affairs-focused scientific communications and technology solutions provider
- Ceridian Corporation in the negotiation of complex agreements addressing data processing and technology services in connection with its sale of subsidiaries in the UK, Ireland and Mauritius to SD Worx
- TCV on its acquisition of minority stake in Spotify, provider of a digital music-streaming service
- Brookfield on a range of privacy and data protection matters
- Oaktree Capital Management on the sale of the Fitness First brand in the UK and Ireland
- Innospec, Inc. in the carve-out by Huntsman Corporation of its European surfactants business, including cross patent and know-how licensing
- Avalon Fashions Limited (which trades as Melissa Odabash) in respect of an alleged trade mark infringement claim made against it in respect of luxury beach wear products sold globally
- Vonage Holdings Corp. in its acquisition of Nexmo, Inc., a developer of cloud-based API solutions
- Getty Images on data protection and privacy matters