Elizabeth Weir has more than twenty years of experience in a broad range of commercial, technology and intellectual property law. Her career has had a particular focus on large-scale, resource-intensive, complex technology transactions (including offshoring and second generation outsourcing) for domestic and international clients in the financial services, insurance, pharmaceuticals, professional services, airline and technology sectors, and in the public sector. She is involved in transactions from inception to go-live, including in respect of commercial and pricing matters as well as contractual and legal issues. In addition, she has advised on transition and developments during the life of the transaction, contract variation, termination and re-tendering.
Elizabeth has also advised on UK and EU data protection legislation, with an emphasis on cross-border data transfers in offshore outsourcings and intra-group operations. She also has a deep background in intellectual property, including patent and trade mark licensing, and copyright and trade mark infringement and assignment.
Elizabeth is a graduate in Law and History from Cambridge University, and passed her Law Society Final Examinations with honors. She gained management experience while a partner in the London office of a US law firm, with particular responsibility for marketing and training, where she was heavily involved in management decisions and staff matters particularly in the run-up to, and the implementation of, the firm’s merger with another US law firm. She has also supported senior inhouse lawyers during departmental restructurings.
Employment History
Bortstein Legal Group, 2016 to present
Consultant, 2010 to 2016, including assignments with Direct Line Insurance, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s Commercial and Dispute Resolution Groups, and Bidvest Logistics
Shaw Pittman, subsequently Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, 2000 to 2006
Stephenson Harwood, 1994 to 2000
Outsourcing
Advised customers on a wide range of domestic and international outsourcing transactions in respect of critical IT and business processes, such as finance and accounting, and human resources, and worked on ‘second generation’ outsourcings and offshorings. Worked with Legal, Procurement, Finance and line-of-business functions from the inception of the transaction through to its completion and go-live, including the transaction’s structure and the procurement process, the development of the request for proposal, the evaluation of suppliers’ responses, competitive negotiations with down-selected suppliers, and final negotiations with successful suppliers. Provided advice on transition and subsequent issues during the life of the transaction, contract variation, termination and re-tendering.
Technology
Advised customers and suppliers on systems development and integration, transition services contracts following corporate disposals, and other complex technology transactions, as well as software licensing and hardware supply contracts, including on commercial and pricing aspects as well as contractual and legal issues. Also provided advice on ecommerce and related security issues.
Commercial/Procurement
Advised on a wide variety of general commercial matters, including supply and services contracts (for example, in respect of public relations, marketing, storage and security services), distribution and licensing agreements, consultancies, and confidentiality agreements.
Data protection
Advised on aspects of UK and EU data protection legislation. Particular focus on cross-border data transfers in offshore outsourcings and intra-group operations.
Intellectual property
Advised on a range of intellectual property issues and transactions, including patent and trade mark licensing, copyright and trade mark infringement, and assignments. Also assisted in the intellectual property and IT aspects of corporate transactions.