William Devenish

William is an English qualified lawyer and leads Osborne Clarke's international expansion and growth offering in our Silicon Valley and San Francisco offices.

He counsels US companies on their international expansion plans into Asia, Europe and other international markets. William understands the challenges that US companies face when trying to do business in Europe and Asia and is frequently asked by clients to act as their single point of contact in relation to their international legal work. His clients range from high and hyper growth start-ups to North American headquartered multinationals, often in the Tech, Media and Comms and Financial Services sectors, all of whom require sophisticated cross-jurisdictional advice.

William spent eleven months on secondment in the UK to Osborne Clarke Solutions, the firm’s industry recognized legal technology innovation team. He worked directly with some of Osborne Clarke’s most innovative and forward thinking clients to create clever legal technology solutions which provided practical solutions to help give clients greater transparency, greater control over cost and risk, and a faster, more efficient approach to legal work. William is now helping to offer Osborne Clarke Solutions to US based businesses.

Prior to relocating to our West Coast offices, William was an associate in the firm’s top ranked banking and finance practice in our Thames Valley office. He counselled major UK banks, borrowers, including US technology companies, and institutional investors on leveraged finance and corporate lending.

William attended the University of Exeter and undertook law school at The College of Law in Guildford. Before joining Osborne Clarke, William worked at Top 75 UK law firm and spent a period of time in house at one of the UK’s major banks advising on complex interest rate hedging products.

William is a solicitor of England and Wales and is not a Californian licensed attorney.