Bill Jones

I founded Wragge & Co's IT and outsourcing practices, which today are very significant practice areas within the Outsourcing, Technology and Trade group. My practice focuses on leading teams, advising on complex IT and outsourcing projects.

Tel: +44 (0)121 214 1018

Email: bill_jones@wragge.com

Best at ...

Assessing the situation the client is in and organising the right team to meet the needs of the project. Using the contract as a risk management tool to get the best achievable deal and to ensure that the client fully understands the strengths and weaknesses of its position.

Highlight of your career so far?

British Airways' first generation outsourcing of its IT applications to Amadeus. The project represented a major strategic shift in BA's thinking about the management and development of its IT platforms. It was a business critical project. Failure wasn't an option!

Most challenging job you've ever done?

Taking over the entire portfolio of IT matters previously outsourced to another law firm for a global IT services provider. This involved immediate responsibility for a large number of existing active projects - the need to learn how our new client wanted things done and to tailor our service accordingly in order to establish an effective working relationship. Speed and efficiency of action were both key to a successful outcome.

What about outside the UK?

Acting for the World Health Organisation on an enterprise resource management project involving the acquisition and integration of a SAP system. The negotiations took place in Geneva and the system is to be rolled out in over one hundred countries. A truly global project.

What's your definition of going the extra mile?

Writing the technical schedules for a major outsourcing project. The client had many technicians in-house but they had writers' block! We were asked to do it and after taking several deep breaths, we undertook the task, working long into the night and over weekends. The client's technicians then took the task on to its conclusion but our technical drafting certainly cured their block!

Best example of a creative legal solution?

Using a deal sheet to clarify the deal and make sure that the big important commercial principles don't get lost in a forest of detailed legal drafting.

How do you get under the client's skin?

Identify all the relevant stakeholders to any transaction, take time to understand their objectives and agendas and factor that into managing the project and negotiating the best deal for the client.

What's your single greatest contribution to Wragge & Co's corporate responsibility?

Trekking with colleagues for ten days in Nepal to raise money for SENSE.

What's been written or said about you that you're most proud of?

Upon completion of a large international outsourcing: 'In twenty-five years of using law firms of all shapes and sizes, including all the big London ones, I haven't previously encountered such a professional service.' CEO of a major airline.