Joanna Thomson
Overview
Joanna Thomson is a technology and IP transactions partner in Kirkland’s London office. She counsels leading global private equity and strategic clients on a wide variety of commercial transactions involving IP, technology and data protection, including high-value mergers and acquisitions, investments, JVs, restructurings and securitisations. She also has extensive experience with advising on separation matters in carve-out transactions, together with drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts (including long-term supply/manufacturing agreements, transitional services agreements and IP, technology or data driven contracts).
In addition to her transactional work, Joanna’s counsel is regularly sought by clients with regards to navigating complex UK and EU privacy law issues in a number of different industry sectors (such as ad-tech, ed-tech, hospitality, pharma, retail, infrastructure and financial services). Joanna also has a keen interest in emerging technologies such as AI (in particular, advising on compliance with the EU AI Act). Prior to joining Kirkland, Joanna worked for a London-headquartered, global firm and also gained in-house experience at one of the largest global retailers.
Joanna also regularly contributes to a number of UK IP publications such as the Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice, European Intellectual Property Law Review, the Entertainment Law Review, and the Computer and Telecommunications Law Review.
Experience
Representative Matters
CitizenM on a definitive agreement for the sale of its lifestyle brand “citizenM” to Marriott International
Bain on its acquisition of Mercer’s UK and U.S. health and pension administration business
Hudson Pacific Properties (HPP), alongside Blackstone (BX), on the £700 million acquisition of a new UK centre for film, TV and digital production
BC Partners on its investment in Advanced, a provider of business software solutions
Advanced on its acquisition of legal technology business Tikit Limited from BT
Ryan Specialty on its acquisition of Castel Underwriting Agencies
AXA IM Alts on the sale of Data4 to Brookfield Infrastructure
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings on its sale to JCDecaux
GIC on its $525 million joint venture with Equinix to develop and operate two xScale™ data centres in South Korea
Medallia, a portfolio company of Thoma Bravo, on its acquisition of Thunderhead, an enterprise technology provider
Vista Equity Partners, on its strategic growth investment in Gatekeeper, a leading vendor and contract lifecycle management platform
Bain Capital Insurance on the launch of employee benefits and pensions administration services business Aptia
BC Partners on the acquisition of a majority stake in PetLab Co
HGGC on the majority investment in Centralis Group
Arctos Partners and the management team of Hayfin in connection with Arctos’ majority investment in Hayfin
Apex Group on the acquisition of GAM’s Management Company activities
EP Group on its possible offer for International Distribution Services
Vista Equity Partners in its $1.25 billion acquisition of Model N
Trive Capital Partners on the recommended cash offer for Ten Entertainment Group
Crescent Point Capital on the acquisition by Ares Management Corporation of the Crescent Point Capital platform, a leading Asia-focused private equity platform
Apex Group on the acquisition of Efficient Group
Sani/Ikos Group on its recapitalization and strategic partnership agreement with GIC
TPG Real Estate on its strategic joint venture with Gatehouse Bank
Hudson Pacific Properties, alongside Blackstone, on the plan to create a major new centre for film, TV and digital production in the UK
Hg and Vista Equity Partners on the sale of Allocate, a leading workforce and people management software-as-a-service provider, to RLDatix
GIC on its $3.9 billion additional joint ventures with Equinix to expand the xScale™ data centre programme
Blackstone on the c. £1.2 billion recommended cash offer for St Modwen Properties plc
HGGC on the sale of a majority stake in Davies, a leading specialist professional services and technology business serving the global insurance market
Trinseo on the €1.137 billion contemplated acquisition of Arkema’s PMMA business
Presidio, a portfolio company of BC Partners, on its acquisition of Arkphire, a leading IT product procurement and services company
Apex Fund Management, a Genstar portfolio company, on its acquisition of the FundRock Group
GIC on the over $1 billion co-investment with Equinix to develop and operate xScale™ data centres in Japan
Media company backed by Kevin Mayer, Tom Staggs and Blackstone, on the acquisition of Moonbug Entertainment Ltd., with shows such as CoComelon, Blippi, and Little Baby Bum
Shamrock Capital Advisers on its majority stake in Silvergate Media with intellectual property, library rights and digital capabilities, including for Octonauts and Peter Rabbit
The bidding consortium led by Advent, Cinven and the RAG-Stiftung on the acquisition of the elevator division of thyssenkrupp AG
BC Partners on its investment in Advanced, a provider of business software solutions
An EQT-led consortium on the CHF 10.2 billion exclusive negotiations to acquire Nestlé Skin Health, a leading global skincare company
Law Business Research, a portfolio company of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, on its acquisition of Globe Business Media Group
Pamplona Capital Management on the sale of Partner in Pet Food (‘PPF’), a market-leading European pet food company headquartered in Hungary, to Cinven
Goldman Sachs, Park Square and NGA Human Resources on the sale of NGA’s UK mid-market and small and medium business divisions
CapVest Partners on its acquisition of Karro Food Group, a leading UK-based pork processing firm, from Endless LLP
TDR Capital, Sun Capital and their portfolio company Keepmoat Limited on the sale of Keepmoat’s regeneration arm to energy and services provider ENGIE for £330 million
Oaktree Capital Management on the carve out and sale of its UK student housing business to a consortium of GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, and global student accommodation firm GSA
Indigo Capital on its sale of Premier Research, a leading middle-market contract research organisation, to Metalmark Capital
Prior Experience
Pinsent Masons LLP, Edinburgh
Associate, 2013–2015
Accenture, London
Consultant, 2011–2013
US Trust, Bank of America, New York
Legal Advisor, 2010–2011
Burness Paul & Williamson LLP, Edinburgh
Trainee Solicitor, 2008–2010
More
Thought Leadership
Publications
Co-Author, “Balmain or Banal? EU General Court Considers the Distinctiveness of Luxury Fashion House’s Lion’s Head Logo”, Entertainment Law Review, 2024
Co-Author, “The Final Piece to the Schrems II Puzzle? UK Parliament Approves New International Data Transfer Mechanisms, Plus Signs of a Breakthrough on Transatlantic Data Flows from the EU”, Kirkland Alert, April 2022
Co-Author, “eXtreme action against G-Force leaves them blushing in the locker room (the capitalised X is intentional)”, Journal of Intellectual Property Law and Practice, vol. 12, no. 5, May 2017
Seminars
“AI Issues in Cross-Border Transactions”, CentreForce USA, New York, November 2024
“EU and UK Data Protection – ‘I almost wish I hadn’t gone down the rabbit hole – and yet – and yet’”, Sun Capital Advisors Meeting, June 2023
Memberships & Affiliations
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 2013, Admitted to practice as a Solicitor of Scotland
Education
- Mountbatten Institute, New YorkPost-Graduate Diploma in International Business2011
- Robert Gordon UniversityDiploma in Legal Practice2008
- University of EdinburghLL.B.Honours2007
- Katholieke Universiteit LeuvenOne-year European exchange on the Erasmus programme2006