Morrison Foerster Further Expands Market-Leading Global Technology Practice with Addition of Charlotte Walker-Osborn in London

London (July 10, 2023) – Morrison Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce the arrival of Charlotte Walker-Osborn, who joins the firm as a partner in the Technology Transactions Group and Transactions Department, based in London. Walker-Osborn will be a leader of both the firm’s European Technology practice and the UK Technology practice. She brings over two decades of experience—including several prominent leadership positions across complex and high-stakes technology roles—to Morrison Foerster, with a particular focus on technology law, digitalization, cyber-security, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Walker-Osborn's arrival further cements Morrison Foerster’s position as the destination law firm for tech clients globally. Her addition underscores recent significant investments the firm has made to its global technology offering, including its combination with litigation boutique Durie Tangri earlier this year, as well as multiple tech-centric partner additions in California in 2022, the opening of its Austin office, also in 2022, and the recent addition in London of a four-strong Intellectual Property team led by Steven James.

Walker-Osborn joins from a global professional services firm, where she was a partner and head of the commercial and digital practice group and law leader of the technology, media, and telecommunications sector. She previously spent more than 20 years at an international law firm, where she served as international head of the technology sector group, and international head of AI, in addition to being a global board member. Her experience spans traditional and innovative technology law, and her client base is global in scope. She has a particular focus on advising U.S., European, UK, and Japanese companies, including global technology, telecommunications, microchip, semiconductor, electronics, social media, automotive, consumer, and life sciences companies. Throughout her career, Walker-Osborn has also advised numerous governments around the world, helping to shape and draft legislation on national security, cybersecurity, AI, and Internet of Things (IoT).

“Charlotte is a dynamic partner and business-oriented practice leader who adds strength on strength to our technology practice, in London and globally,” said Eric McCrath, Chair of Morrison Foerster. “Charlotte’s deep tech sector experience and her well-established client relationships in the U.S., UK, and Japan offer great synergies with MoFo’s existing offering and make her a perfect fit for the firm. Her arrival also underscores Morrison Foerster’s continued investment in our market-leading technology sector capabilities, following several strategic additions in California, Austin, and London in the last 18 months.”

Walker-Osborn’s broad technology practice spans the full spectrum of cross-border technology and telecommunications matters, including AI, cybersecurity, smart cities, autonomous vehicles, Internet of Things and smart technology, cloud computing, systems development, mobile and e-commerce platforms, ethics in tech, and tech M&A. She regularly advises clients on digitalization, systems development and licensing, outsourcing, software and cloud contracting, hardware and software leasing, due diligence, transitional service agreements, open source and intellectual property rights, new product launch and risk assessments, AI, data law and cyber-resilience.

“We are thrilled to welcome Charlotte to the firm. Charlotte has a proven track record of building and growing successful practices and long-term client relationships. Her presence will further strengthen our global technology offering. Her in-depth sector experience, global outlook, and recognized TMT and AI thought leadership make Charlotte an invaluable asset to our M&A and tech sector clients around the globe,” said Tessa Schwartz, Co-Chair of Morrison Foerster’s Transactions Department, and a leading technology expert.

“Morrison Foerster’s global technology capabilities are second to none and present a multitude of synergies with my practice,” said Walker-Osborn. “The firm’s strength and depth across tech and the calibre of its client base were big draws for me, as well as its unique collaborative culture. MoFo’s longstanding commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion also really stood out for me and strongly aligns with my personal values. I am excited to work closely with colleagues across Morrison Foerster’s platform in the U.S., Europe, and Asia to further grow my practice and better support my own clients as well as to work alongside the world’s best known tech companies to help them deliver on their strategic priorities.”

Walker-Osborn obtained her undergraduate degree in Law from Lancaster University, and her LPC from Nottingham Law School, where she also earned a Diploma in Commercial Law. She is qualified to practice in England and Wales and speaks French.