Commercial Solicitor

Thomas Bjorn

years experience

Summary

Thomas is a commercially focused solicitor with over 30 years of international experience advising clients in the technology, life sciences and healthcare sectors. With a background in both English and Danish law, he brings valuable insight to complex transactional matters involving the commercialisation of innovation. Thomas has worked in private legal practice and with government agencies, multinational corporations and emerging ventures – such as spin-outs and early-stage companies – and is recognised for his pragmatic and collaborative approach. His practice encompasses commercial contracts, intellectual property strategy, regulatory compliance, and market access, with particular expertise in cross-border matters involving Europe and India.

Admissions & Year Qualified

Thomas qualified as a Danish lawyer and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Denmark in 1992. He later qualified as an English solicitor in 2004 and has been based in London since then.

Employment History

Thomas has most recently worked as a specialist consultant with the in-house teams at a number of major international companies where he advised clients in the life sciences and technology sectors on contract law, IP licensing, technology transfer, clinical trials, data governance and regulatory compliance. Previously, he served as General Counsel and Deputy Director at the UK Health Security Agency and its predecessor bodies, where he led the legal support for life sciences operations generating an income of £150–200 million annually. His work comprised drafting and negotiating a range of national and international agreements and protection and commercialisation of a range of intellectual property rights. Thomas also worked as Head of Legal Affairs at Octapharma AG in Switzerland and in private practice in London and Copenhagen, specialising in contract and technology law, life sciences and IP rights. Additionally, he has an ongoing role senior as advisor to a prominent Indian law firm with offices in eight major cities across the country.

Career Highlights

Acted as General Counsel and Deputy Director of the UK Health Security Agency and NHS Test and Trace.
Advised on commercial life science agreements involving major pharmaceutical companies and foreign governments.
Supported spin-outs and early-stage companies on legal matters, commercial strategy, technology and innovation.
Served as Board Member and Chair of the Research & Innovation Committee at Fight for Sight, the UK’s leading ophthalmology research charity.