Joe Pennell

Joe Pennell advises clients on digital transformation and outsourced services transactions, including with respect to customer-facing digital platforms, hyperscale cloud, SaaS, ERP, blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), robotic process automation (RPA), the Internet of Things (IoT), software licensing and implementation, and the outsourcing of finance and accounting services, IT infrastructure services and support, managed network services, application development and maintenance and facilities management.

Joe is highly ranked by Chambers USA 2024 and clients say “Joe Pennell brings stellar value to our work not only from the legal perspective but also from a strategy standpoint. He brilliantly balances the legal risks with the objectives we're trying to accomplish.” Joe is also recognized by Legal 500 US 2023 as a “Next Generation Partner.”

• Represented the US corporate and investment banking affiliate of a global French financial institution in implementing a new onshore/nearshore outsourced services model for the delivery of mission-critical (a) software applications development and maintenance and (b) IT services (including database administration, application production support, technology capacity management, infrastructure maintenance, network support, asset management, data center operations, data storage, security management, service desk, technical administration, project management, and trading floor support).
• Represented one of the country’s five largest health insurance providers as part of a multi-vendor re-negotiation process, culminating in the execution of various MSAs, Statements of Work, and amendments with eleven different vendors for the provision of various IT and business process outsourced services (including call center (sales and service), claims processing, retail policy platform maintenance and operation, and software applications development and maintenance). Combined anticipated charges during the term of the agreements are in excess of $1 billion.
• Represented a global financial institution (FI) in negotiating a strategic alliance agreement with an enterprise software company, which resulted in the largest ever fully embedded Banking as a Service (BaaS) deployment into a globally recognized cloud ERP system.
• Represented a mortgage lender and servicer in (1) developing and negotiating a SaaS reseller agreement with a technology platform provider and (2) developing a Google Cloud Platform Marketplace End User License Agreement, in each case in connection with the delivery of the client’s industry-specific artificial intelligence services to clients in the mortgage industry.
• Represented a major fintech in the outsourcing of software applications development and maintenance for the fintech’s mission-critical, client-facing SaaS platforms. The outsourced functions also included associated client services, engineering, IT infrastructure, data science, and data security.
• Represented a leading aerospace company in the drafting and negotiation of a master services agreement with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) services provider for development of an AI-enabled air traffic control system for autonomous, unmanned aerial vehicles.

• Harvard Law School, JD
  Senior Editor, Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy
• Michigan State University, BS, with high honors, Electrical Engineering

• Illinois

• American Bar Association: Co-Chair, Cloud Computing Committee
• American Bar Association: Council Member