Boutique IT outfit Technology Law Alliance has bolstered its financial services practice with the hire of senior Norwich Union in-house lawyer Jess Brown.

The new hire brings Technology Law Alliance up to six lawyers, with Brown joining as an associate. Brown spent 10 years at Norwich Union, where she concentrated on IT, outsourcing and e-commerce work.

At Technology Law Alliance, Brown will focus on IT advice to financial services clients.

Brown is the second hire this year for the firm after Gareth Stokes joined from Wragge & Co in January.

Brown said: “I was attracted by the firm’s high profile and customer-friendly working model. The firm is everything I would have looked for in an external firm when I was with Norwich Union.”

Technology Law Alliance was launched in 2003 by former Wragges lawyers Jagvinder Kang and Stephen Ollerenshaw. They hired Capgemini UK general counsel Gavin Wakefield a year later and then brought in Nabarro technology partner Jeremy Newton.

Partner Gavin Wakefield said: “Our philosophy is to recruit only well-respected, deal-oriented senior lawyers, and Jess Brown fits the bill perfectly. With her on board we will continue to drive towards our goals.”