John Patten

Associate Technology & IP Transactions
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP

London +44 20 7953 2544

John Patten

Overview

John Patten is an associate in the London office of Kirkland’s Technology and Intellectual Property Transactions Practice Group. John’s practice focuses on advising clients on a variety of complex commercial and corporate transactions in which technology, IP and data play a major role, including M&A (sales, acquisitions and carve-outs), mergers, transfers, licensing, brand co-operations, security, joint ventures, research & development agreements, settlements, and services, manufacturing and supply arrangements. John also advises clients on data protection compliance in relation to the EU General Data Protection Regulation and related European data privacy laws, and has experience advising on aspects of European healthcare regulations.

John has a wealth of experience across a range of sectors and industries, including life sciences, software, media, gaming, entertainment, telecommunications, food & beverages, sports data, digital marketing, hospitality and investment management. John’s prior experience in other international firms and conducting international IP litigation, provides him with additional valuable experience in international and strategy aspects of commercial transactions that have proved invaluable for his clients. John’s first class grade in the Oxford Postgraduate Diploma in IP law and Practice also provides him with invaluable knowledge of the legal structure underpinning IP protections.

Prior to and since joining Kirkland, John has worked on the following matters:

  • Inflexion on its re-investment in the British Engineering Services Group, a specialist in engineering testing, inspection and consultancy services.
  • HPS Investment Partners on its investment into the UK wealth management division of Canaccord Genuity Group Inc.
  • Bain Capital Private Equity and Cinven on the CHF 4.2 billion definitive agreement to acquire Lonza Specialty Ingredients.
  • Flexpoint Ford LLC on its recommended cash acquisition of AFH Financial Group Plc, a financial planning-led wealth management firm. 
  • Montagu Private Equity on the acquisition of the Education Software Solutions business of Capita plc. and on the agreement to invest in ParentPay.
  • AXA Investment Managers - Real Assets on the acquisition of the Kadans Science Partner platform. 
  • Vitruvian Partners on its sale of Unifaun, a cloud delivery orchestration platform serving the European logistics ecosystem, to Marlin Equity Partners.
  • The bidding consortium led by Advent, Cinven and the RAG-Stiftung on the acquisition of the elevator division of thyssenkrupp AG.
  • An EQT-led consortium on the CHF 10.2 billion exclusive negotiations to acquire Nestlé Skin Health, a leading global skincare company.
  • Thomas H. Lee Partners on its acquisition of AutoStore, a robotics and software company providing automation technology to warehouse & distribution facilities.
  • GIC as part of a consortium acquiring a 55% a stake in the real estate assets of French multinational hotel group AccorHotels for approximately €4.4 billion.
  • Blackstone on its acquisition of the business and assets of Murka, a developer and promoter of social casino gaming applications for mobile devices and social media.
  • United Group on its €220 million definitive agreement to acquire Tele2 Croatia.
  • Advanced, a Vista Equity Partners portfolio company and the UK’s third largest software company, on its acquisition of leading legacy modernisation solutions provider Modern Systems.
  • Valence Media on its £45 million investment into Fulwell 73, the British independent production company run by partners Ben Winston, Leo Pearlman, Gabe Turner, Ben Turner and James Corden.
  • CapVest Partners and Valeo Food Group on Valeo’s acquisition of the Tangerine Confectionery Group.
  • Funds advised by Apax Partners on the acquisition of Genius Sports, a London based global leader in sports data technology, distribution and commercialisation services.
  • Greenbriar Equity Group on its strategic equity partnership with BDP International, a provider of logistics and supply chain management services.
  • Novartis on IP and service agreement aspects of its $20 billion asset swap with GlaxoSmithKline.
  • Schneider Electric Software on the IP aspects of its £3 billion merger with Aveva plc.
  • RSA Insurance on the IP aspects of the £403 million sale of its Latin American business to Suramericana.
  • Hertz Corporation on its long-term strategic partnership in Brazil with Localiza.
  • AXA on the IP aspects of the £610 million divestment of its entire UK life and savings business to three purchasers.
  • Sanofi S.A. in two UK High Court innovator-innovator patent litigations defending claims for infringement.
  • A leading UK advertising company on a settlement agreement with its supplier.
  • Two international professional services networks on the restructuring of their IP licensing arrangements with network member firms. 
  • An internationally renowned casual dining restaurant on the restructuring of its international franchise arrangements.
  • A consortium of banks of the development and IP ownership of a new trading software platform.
  • Alliance Medical on its £500 million acquisition by Life Healthcare.
  • One of the world’s largest suppliers of online gaming and sports betting software on a number of pre-litigation IP issues and a WIPO UDRP dispute. 
  • Ben Ainslie Racing on the IP legal aspects of its bid for the 35th Americas Cup.

Linklaters LLP, London

  • Associate, 2015–2018

  • Trainee Solicitor, 2013–2015

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Thought Leadership

Publications

“CJEU Brings AG Spunzar to Heel in Finding Louboutin Registration to be Valid”, Emma Flett and John Patten, Entertainment Law Review, Volume 9, Issue 7, September 2018.

“Third Time’s the Charm: Supreme Court Orders Luxury Watchmaker to Pay the Costs of Blocking Web Infringers”, Emma Flett and John Patten, Computer and Telecommunications Law Review, Volume 24, Issue 7, September 2018.

“Data Protection on Both Sides of the Pond: GDPR v California’s Consumer Privacy Act”, Emma Flett and John Patten, Computer and Telecommunications Law Review, Volume 25, Issue 1, January 2019.

“SEPs Education: Court of Appeal Confirms its FRANDly Approach to Global SEP Licences”, Emma Flett and John Patten, European Intellectual Property Law Review, Volume 41, Issue 3, 2019.

“Court of Appeal Furthers the UK’s Bid to be the SEPs Capital of Europe”, Emma Flett and John Patten, European Intellectual Property Law Review, Volume 41, Issue 6, 2019.

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 2015, Admitted to Practice as a Solicitor of England and Wales

Education

  • University of OxfordPostgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and PracticeDistinction2017
  • University of Law, LondonLL.B.Distinction2013
  • University of OxfordBiological SciencesFirst Class Honours2011