Below are some of the latest senior practitioner moves and firm news across the world. Readers should note that firm and practitioner news can also be found on a firm's review page.
EUROPE
Bardehle Pagenberg strengthens the patent team
In January 2023, the firm welcomed patent litigators Tobias Wuttke, Volkmar Henke, and Tilman Müller as partners in the firm. Henke and Müller, who specialise in communications technology patent disputes, were previously with Eisenführ Speiser. Wuttke, an all-around IP litigator, joined from Meissner Bolte, where he was the head of IP litigation.
Apple hires a patent litigator in Munich
Apple recruited DLA Piper’s senior associate Sonja Bohusch as a senior legal counsel in Munich in 2023. Bohusch’s LinkedIn profile states she is responsible for "European IP litigation with a focus on patent infringement and nullity proceedings [and] UPC strategy".
Two IP firms merge in the Netherlands
Dutch boutique firms Le Poole Bekema and Hofhuis Alkema Groen merged in January 2023 to form AC&R, a firm that specialises in soft IP law.
Keller Schneider brings in a rising star
Manuel Soria Parra, who was ranked as a rising star in 2022, joined Keller Schneider as a partner in January 2023. Parra was previously an associate at Meissner Bolte. He has expertise in medical technology and engineering.
A new IP firm in Germany
Five Boehmert & Boehmert patent attorneys have launched a new firm called SKM-IP. Chemistry and life sciences specialists Jan Krauss and David Kuttenkeuler and engineering specialists Nils Schmid, Florian Malescha, and Paul Schieler left Boehmert & Boehmert in December 2022 to launch a new firm called SKM-IP. The founding partners also hired soft IP lawyer Max Philipp Klüpfel from df-mp and trainee patent attorneys.
Morrison Foerster recruits IP lawyers in London
Morrison Foerster hired a team of IP lawyers led by Steven James, who joined as a partner in the firm’s litigation department in London. Previously, the lawyers worked at Brown Rudnick, where James was the lead partner for UK and European IP practice.They joined the firm in December 2022.
Plasseraud IP hires litigator
IP litigator Sandrine Bouvier-Ravon joined Plasseraud IP’s legal practice as a partner in 2023. Bouvier-Ravon was previously with the boutique firm Cousin & Associés.
Maiwald strengthens in Düsseldorf
Maiwald recently expanded its pharmaceutical and life sciences practice by hiring five patent practitioners including Lars Häusler, who joined in 2023 as a partner. The new hires were previously with Viering Jentschura & Partner. In other news, the firm promoted 2022 Rising Star Christian Meyer and Nils Braun to partner in 2022.
Hoffmann Eitle bolsters the London team
German IP firm Hoffmann Eitle has hired biotech patent attorney David Miller as a partner in its London office. Miller was previously with Mathys & Squire.
AMERICAS
AMS Trade lawyers join Polsinelli
Kansas City-based Polsinelli hired seven ITC lawyers from AMS Trade to launch its ITC and Trade Remedies practice in Washington, D.C in January 2023. The lawyers include former ITC chair Deanna Tanner Okun, Louis S Mastriani, Daniel F Smith, Lauren E Peterson and Lydia C Pardini. Okun will lead the new practice. AMS Trade has now dissolved.
Buckley merges with Orrick
Financial services law firm Buckley has merged with Orrick, effective February 2023, a move that will make Orrick a strong law firm for financial services and fintech work.
Orrick takes patent team from Milbank
Orrick recently hired a patent litigation team from Milbank in California to bolster its life sciences practice. The four attorneys, who joined as partners, are David Gindler, Gary Frischling, Lauren Drake and John Lu.
Paul Weiss’ life sciences IP litigation team opens boutique
A team of four life sciences-focused patent litigators from Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison recently left to start their own boutique, Groombridge Wu Baughman & Stone. The founding attorneys, including Patent Stars Nicholas Groombridge, Steven Baughman and Eric Stone, have expertise in biologics and high-tech matters.
Three-partner IP team moves to Dinsmore
Dinsmore recruited three IP partners from Middleton Reutlinger. The three Kentucky-based attorneys are former IP chair Robert Eichenberger, James Cole and Alexander Brackett.
Duane Morris gets two patent lawyers
Patent lawyers Tia D Fenton and Christopher Ricciuti has joined as partners in the firm's Washington, D.C. office. They were previously with Oblon McClelland Maier & Neustadt.
Taft expands in the Midwest
Detroit-based firm Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss completed its merger with Taft in December 2022. According to the firm's press release, "Taft is now comprised of more than 800 attorneys in eight primary Midwest markets and the District of Columbia".
Debevoise hires tech litigation attorney in California
Debevoise & Plimpton recently announced the hiring of former Kirkland & Ellis attorney Barbara Barath, adding to the firm’s patent litigation practice. Barath will operate out of the San Francisco office as counsel.
White & Case hires first chair litigator
Soft IP litigator Anna B Naydonov joined White & Case in 2023 as a partner in its DC office. Naydonov joined from Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner.
DLA Piper adds two attorneys in Chile
DLA Piper recruited Carla Illanes as counsel and Juan Cristobal Rios as an associate in its Santiago office. Both attorneys advise on IP and data protection matters.
ASIA-PACIFIC
Lee & Co loses patent star to rival
Patent lawyer Seong-Ki Kim left Lee & Co in 2022 to join Yoon & Lee International Patent & Law Firm.
ZICO IP "carved out" of KPMG deal
In December 2022, ZICO Law entered into an agreement to join KPMG. In a press release, the global professional services firm said the ZICO Law network of firms will either join KPMG or become member firms of KPMG. ZICO IP was carved out as a separate, independent regional entity. A new firm, LindaWang Su & Boo, was set up in Malaysia to manage ZICO IP.
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