Bristol-headquartered national law firm TLT has strengthened its public sector offering with the appointment of Gemma Townley as a partner in its technology, IP and data team.
Gemma, pictured, joins from London-based public law firm Sharpe Pritchard, where she specialised in technology procurement and commercial contracts. 
Her experience includes advising public sector and private clients on outsourcing projects and providing key strategic and commercial advice on procurement.
At TLT she will work with the firm’s public sector team, providing information and advice to central and local government clients and blue light services on all types of complex technology and telecommunications procurements.
Gemma also brings a wealth of experience in healthcare, having undertaken a secondment to the Department of Health and Social Care’s Test & Trace programme as a senior commercial lawyer in its legal team.
She has also advised the UK Health Security Agency on the strategic procurement of the Rosalind Franklin Laboratory to aid the national roll-out of PCR tests.
Gemma’s move to TLT means she is reunited with Gareth Oldale, the firm’s head of data, privacy and cybersecurity, having previously worked with him at Sharpe Pritchard.
Gareth said Gemma’s appointment further increased TLT’s public sector offering and added depth and talent to its national technology, IP and data team at a time of increased demand for public procurement support.
“Her expertise and deep understanding of the challenges faced by the public sector, both generally and specifically in the context of running multi-million pound digital transformation programmes, is a great asset to the firm,” he said.
“Gemma is well placed to advise and support on complex procurement matters and further builds our capability and offering to both private and public sector clients.”
Gemma added: “Public procurement is set to be transformed in the next few years and will result in both opportunities and challenges for the public sector. The legal sector as a whole is also adapting in response to client demand for more innovative and agile legal services.
“TLT is recognised as a leader in innovation and offers a unique platform to develop and champion innovative, solution-focused advice to the public sector during this time and beyond.
“I’m really excited to be joining TLT at such a pivotal moment and I’m looking forward to working with the team to support our clients with their procurement and technology projects.”
TLT employs more than 140 partners and around 1,200 people across its seven offices. It was named Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2021.
