“had more positive feedback than any other individual lawyer in our client research”
“excellent client feedback and a sensible commercial approach” – Insider’s Guides – E-Commerce

“Rafi Azim-Khan is highly recommended for advising brand owners”
“exceptional, second to none,” “superb, creative and very knowledgeable” – Legal 500

“Depth backed by competence, responsiveness and flexibility”
Rafi Azim-Khan: “…a guru in the field” – Chambers Directory

Mr. Azim-Khan is a Partner in our London office and head of the Intellectual Property, Information Technology and Data Privacy Practices in Europe. He is also a member of the Global Sourcing Practice and leads the firm’s E-Business and Marketing law teams. He was previously an IP Partner in the London office of major UK firm Wragge & Co, where he was head of the E-Business and Marketing Law groups. Prior to that he was an IP Partner at McDermott Will & Emery and head of E-Commerce.

Mr. Azim-Khan has considerable experience of advising on a wide range of EU and international IP, regulatory and commercial matters for almost 20 years, particularly new product launches or entry into new markets, IP protection/disputes, procurements, outsourcing, contracts, data protection and regulator dealings. Sector experience includes IT, food, healthcare, media, travel, automotive and defense. He has built a leading reputation (listed as a “leader” in brand and advertising law since 1994 and as one of the UK’s “Digital Dozen” e-commerce and data protection specialists) for his high level, strategic and cutting edge advice (on a UK and international basis) for many well known multinational clients including GE, GM, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, Freeserve, Motorola, British Bankers’ Association, Adaptec, Coca-Cola, Cadbury Schweppes, Shell, Camelot, Virgin, British Airways, Delta Airlines, News International, Energizer, Wilkinson Sword and Starbucks.

He has advised on numerous intellectual property issues (both litigation and commercial) and on all aspects of e-commerce and digital technology. On the IP side, this includes leading matter experience of passing off (including the “Jif” lemon House of Lords case), copyright (James Bond 007 franchise, photographic, music, TV, film, Guinness “Dancing Man” case, deeplinking), trademark/brand issues (Easy Jet domain disputes, the rebrand of Daewoo as Chevrolet), creation/protection of IP (convergence, TV and software patents & TM portfolios for the UK National Lottery/Camelot), ECJ “Bubbles” case O2 v 3 (exploring the boundaries of the EU TM and Comparative Advertising Directives) and database rights (F1).

On the e-commerce and data protection/privacy side this experience includes conducting full legal website, privacy policy, privacy document and process “audits” for various multinationals, data transfer and breach advice, safe harbor, MCCs and BCRs, major ISP start-ups, B2B and B2C exchanges and auctions, e-partner agreements site creation and disclaimers, pan-EU online contracting, jurisdictional issues, net-shopping and marketing, net-betting/gaming, public key infrastructure, digital certificates and net-security. Mr. Azim-Khan advised on the set up and launch of the UK’s first Internet-only insurance products and separately one of the UK’s first fully interactive digital TV/Web portal commercials and websites selling cars direct from manufacturer to consumer for the first time.

On the marketing law front, Mr. Azim-Khan has considerable experience advising both advertisers and agencies on best strategy to compete or launch products, contracts, commercial issues, overcoming difficult regulator problems (ASA, OFT, Trading Standards), “clearance“ of materials and marketing law and regulation both above and below the line. He has also advised, on a wide range of sale promotions and sports related deals (e.g., France ‘98 World Cup), prize competitions, lotteries, newspaper and-television promotions (e.g. UK’s: first £1 million prize promotions), formats, terms and conditions. Mr. Azim-Khan has particular experience in global and pan-EU marketing campaigns, new brand/product launches and comparative advertising disputes (e.g. global launch of Wilkinson Sword/Schick Quattro razor and successful conclusion of multi country disputes with Gillette, launch of new airline websites and services such as for British Airways and Delta Airlines).

On the outsourcing, procurement, government contracting and commercial contracts side, Mr. Azim-Khan has significant experience, including advising BAE Systems on numerous outsourcing and data protection issues relating to the creation and operation of the Xchanging JV and its global HR and IT sourcing, as well as advising Shell on sourcing and commercial contracts aspects of a new business model. He has substantial public procurement experience of selling to and contracting/dealing with government (e.g. DOH, MOD, Catalist, OGC Buying Solutions) and has also advised on numerous agency, distribution, services, publishing, production and other agreements and trading terms and conditions. On the defence side he also has particular experience of dealings with the U.S. Defense Dept, DSCC, security clearances and international aspects of foreign ownership and control and on the EU side the specific procurement rules and authorisation requirements.

Mr. Azim-Khan is a prolific writer on the subjects of IP, data protection, e-business and marketing and a regular speaker and columnist (contributed to the FT, Evening Standard, Bloomberg, Electronic Business Law, PLC and Commercial Lawyer).

• 2011 Chambers UK, Media & Entertainment: Advertising and Marketing—National and London
• 2011 PLC Which Lawyer?, IT & E-Commerce—UK (2009-2011)
• 2010 Legal 500 UK, Telecom, Media & Technology

E-Commerce Law Group, Advertising Law Group (Chair), IBA, Law Society, British American Business (Chair Law Forum)

• EU Data Protection Article 29 Working Party Opinion on Online Behavioural Advertising. World Data Protection Report, Vol 10 No. 7, July 2010
• Ad Law, IPA, 1^st and 2^nd Edition, Co-Authored, 2005 and 2008
• E-Business—The Practical Guide to the Laws, Spiramus, 2nd Edition, Co-Authored, 2008
• Encyclopedia of E-Commerce Law, Sweet & Maxwell, Co-Authored, 2006
• International Sales Promotion Manual, PLC Cross Border, Co-Authored, 2002
• E-Commerce from Cradle to Grave, City and Financial, Co-Authored, 2001
• A Practitioner’s Guide to Regulation of the Internet, City and Financial, Co-Authored, 2000