Julian Ward

Julian Ward is a specialist games lawyer, who has spent the past two decades working in the games sector advising clients on everything from the development to the publishing and distribution of online games. Currently working as the Head of the Digital & Technology Group and Head of Games for Lee & Thompson LLP, Julian is committed to the legalities of the gaming industry. Revered for his in-depth gaming and legal knowledge, Julian is now highly sought after as a keynote speaker on maintaining data privacy and security in the gaming industry.

Back in 1998, Julian began his illustrious legal career as a Trainee Solicitor for Addleshaw Goddard. Building the foundations for his legal career, Julian later became an Associate of Wragge & Co LLP, where he was an associate within the Intellectual Property and Technology Team. Forging a renowned reputation as a digital entertainment and media lawyer, Julian was appointed as the General Counsel and as the Director of Legal & Business Affairs for Codemasters. Spending seven years working with Codemasters, Julian built astute knowledge of licensing, digital compliance, digital moderation, data and privacy in the gaming industry. Proving his worth as a talented gaming lawyer, Julian was appointed as the Senior Legal Counsel of the Digital Entertainment and Games Division of BBC Worldwide in 2012.

Widely responsible for the management of digital publishing and the games business of the BBC, Julian was later promoted to become the Head of Business & Legal Affairs of Digital Retail for BBC Worldwide. In 2015, Julian became a Partner and the Head of Digital Media at Hamlins LLP, a role that encompassed all aspects of digital entertainment law – from broadcasting and audio-visual digital exploitation to social media marketing and user-generated content. With almost two decades of experience in the legal profession, Julian was appointed to his current role at Lee & Thompson LLP in 2017, sitting at the helm of advising clients on digital exploitation and data protection, as an acclaimed expert on data privacy in the gaming industry.

Having worked with clients such as Pixel Toys, Hutch Games, Curve Digital, Jagex, FunPlus and Wired Publishing to name but a few, Julian Ward is highly regarded as a premier media and entertainment lawyer who is committed to maintaining the privacy of online data. Now hired as a keynote speaker for corporate events, Julian is hired to emphasise the importance of maintaining data privacy online. As a seasoned speaker, Julian was personally invited by the President of King.com, creator of the iconic Candy Crush game, Tjodolf Sommestad to deliver a two-day conference discussing the future of data and privacy in the gaming industry. If you are looking to hire an expert on data privacy, digital innovation and creative development in the gaming sector, don’t hesitate to hire Julian Ward today.