White & Black and Anderson Law opened at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus on 3 June 2026, bringing together strategic business advisory and specialist IP and technology law under one roof for the first time, in one of the world’s most significant innovation environments.
Harwell is a globally-connected science and innovation campus providing access to some of the most powerful scientific equipment in the world at the National Science Centres and Research facilities. Organisations are focused around 5 innovation clusters: Energy Tech, Health Tech, Space, Quantum and Defence. These clusters allow businesses to connect, innovate, grow and thrive in a dynamic and evolving landscape. To support these businesses to grow and innovate successfully they need professional expertise which understands the regulatory, commercial environment in which they operate.
The combined expertise of White & Black and Anderson Law brings to Harwell over 25 years’ experience of working with global technology businesses. The firms have worked closely together for many years and the decision to establish a joint presence on campus is a natural extension of the way in which they already operate. This is a deliberate move to be physically present in an environment where proximity and responsiveness matter.
The collaboration brings together Anderson Law’s specialist expertise in intellectual property, technology licensing and commercialisation with White & Black’s focus on advising business leaders on growth, risk, decision-making and long-term value creation. Both firms work with clients across the UK and internationally and both understand that even businesses focused on domestic markets often face decisions with cross-border dimensions, particularly at Harwell.
Victoria Wright, CEO of White & Black, commented:
Harwell is a place where world class ideas are being turned into real world impact. Establishing a presence here is about being part of something that is already exceptional and contributing to an ecosystem that matters. It’s an exciting time for Harwell and for the wider Oxfordshire region, with growing national attention and long term investment creating real momentum. We work with business leaders at moments of growth and change, where decisions have lasting implications. By collaborating closely with Anderson Law and being present on campus, we can support organisations in a way that reflects how they actually operate, strategic, fast moving and deeply connected to risk and value.
AnnMarie Nixon, Managing Partner at Anderson Law, added:
Our work sits at the intersection of early-stage innovation, IP strategy and commercialisation, frequently involving international markets, partners and licensing arrangements. Harwell is rich in organisations dealing with exactly those issues, often in highly technical and heavily regulated environments. We already support a number of businesses based on the campus, and this collaboration allows us to be more embedded, more responsive and more closely aligned with their needs as they scale globally. Working alongside White & Black enables us to offer a truly wrap-around advisory approach as businesses grow and evolve.
Patrick Pringle, Associate Director of Leasing at Harwell Campus added:
We’re delighted to welcome White & Black and Anderson Law to Harwell. As the campus continues to expand and attract pioneering organisations from across the UK and around the world, access to specialist professional expertise is increasingly important. Their combined experience in supporting innovative, high-growth businesses will be a valuable addition to our ecosystem, helping campus members navigate complex commercial, regulatory and intellectual property challenges as they develop, scale and bring new technologies to market.
From mid-June the two firms will be running a programme of events and clinics designed to address the challenges businesses on campus face. Topics will include contracting with government and public procurement, collaboration agreements, IP strategy and valuations, funding and investment, and dispute resolution. The programme will develop in response to what the firms learn on the ground. The intention is to be genuinely useful, and to earn that by being present.
Harwell’s growing importance to the UK’s role in the global innovation landscape, and the international nature of the work happening on campus, makes it a natural home for two firms whose work has always been oriented around decisions with consequences that stretch well beyond the UK.
About White & Black:
Oxford-based White & Black provide strategic legal advice to business leaders that are looking to grow, manage their risk and maximise their value. Between its immediate and wider teams, the firm provides a wrap-around, one-stop-shop service, offering complete versatility around client needs. With a global reach, White & Black works with owners, founders and decisions makers in innovative businesses, across hundreds of sectors.
About Anderson Law:
Anderson Law is a boutique technology law firm, providing advice to high growth companies and research institutions on the development and commercialisation of intellectual property and data. Known for providing pragmatic and commercially-focussed solutions, the firm has particular expertise in IP licensing, data protection, technology transfer, and negotiating complex R&D contracts. Anderson Law’s clients include world leading research institutions, multi-national tech companies, start-ups, spin-outs and SMEs.
