GIM‐1 is a member of the class B carbapenemases (metallo‐β‐lactamases; MBLs) and has a wide spectrum of activity against carbapenems, penicillins and extended‐spectrum cephalosporins, but not aztreonam. GIM‐1 presents an enormous challenge to infection control, particularly in the eradication of Gram‐negative pathogens including Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and nonfermenters. There are presently few or no drugs in late‐stage development for these pathogens and GIM‐1 is a potential target for the development of antimicrobial agents against pathogens producing MBLs. In this study, GIM‐1 was cloned, overexpressed and crystallized. The GIM‐1 crystals diffracted to 1.4 Å resolution and belonged to the orthorhombic space group P212121, with unit‐cell parameters a = 38.5, b = 67.6, c = 72.8 Å. One molecule is present in the asymmetric unit, with a corresponding VM of 1.69 Å3 Da−1 and a solvent content of 27.1%.