Bio

Rory is regarded as one of the leading technology lawyers in the UK, having led practices at Baker McKenzie and Bird & Bird (where he became a partner at 27). Rory has acted on several hundred transactions in the UK, US and globally, with a value exceeding US$50 billion, and is described in the professional directories as “leading the pack” and “tough to come up against.” His practice covers corporate and commercial work, principally in the technology sector, including outsourcing/procurement deals; corporate finance; mergers and acquisitions; and joint ventures and other collaborations. This also involves advice on IP identification and exploitation (including licensing and SaaS) and on data privacy. Rory’s clients include NYSE-listed tech businesses) and early-stage tech companies, several of which he has taken from inception to exit He has advised on many international deals and has worked on projects in the US, Switzerland, South Africa and Algeria, amongst other countries. Having been a partner in several US law firms, Rory set up his own firm, Coffey Graham, in 2008, focussing on the tech sector. Rory is a well-respected commentator on technology and the law: recent thought-leadership papers cover Blockchain, AI and public procurement. Rory is a Founding Fellow of the Global Sourcing Association, having been its first legal director. He was recently chairman of one of its “Reshaping Sourcing” working groups and presented its findings relating to, among other things, Blockchain and AI, at the GSA UK Symposium. Rory is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, one of the Guilds of the City of London. He was born in Glasgow and brought up in Renfrewshire and Suffolk. He trained in London and Hong Kong. He is Honorary Solicitor to the annual Story of Christmas charity appeal and a trustee of the London Firebird Orchestra, which promotes the careers of recent graduates from the London Conservatoires.