Technology Law scoops Cap Gemini’s legal chief

Fledgling technology boutique Technology Law Alliance has made an audacious swoop for head of legal Gavin Wakefield from key client Cap Gemini Ernst & Young (CGE&Y).

CGE&Y has hired Barry Wong from the legal team
at rival IBM to replace Wakefield.

It is a bold move for Wakefield, who has spent his entire career in-house, and for the Technology Law Alliance, which was launched in Birmingham at the beginning of 2003 by Stephen Ollerenshaw and Jagvinder Kang, formerly of Wragge & Co.

Wakefield leaves CGE&Y after five years to launch the Technology Law Alliance’s London office. He has worked with Ollerenshaw and Kang throughout their time at Wragges and at Technology Law Alliance.

CGE&Y is a key client for Technology Law Alliance and Wakefield acknowledged that his recruitment could either strengthen or jeopardise the relationship. He was keen to point out that CGE&Y is not the firm’s biggest client. It has advised FTSE 100 and AIM-listed companies on IT and outsourcing matters including a £100m e-government procurement project.

Wakefield said he was inspired by Ollerenshaw and Kang. “Joining them as they push the law firm to its goal of being the UK’s leading specialist IT law firm is a good opportunity and a real challenge for me,” he said.