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.
Asia-Pacific
Morgan Lewis gets approval in China
Morgan Lewis announced this month that it will open an office in Shenzhen following regulatory approval by the China Ministry of Justice. According to its press release, the new office will be the firm’s fourth office in China and its eighth in the region. Shaobin Zhu is the co-head of its China IP practice.
McCabes Lawyers hires head of IP
The Sydney-based boutique hired Mindaugas Skavronskas as a principal to lead its IP practice. Skavronskas, who joined from Norton Rose Fulbright, specializes in trade mark and IP transactions work.
Former Ant Group IP chief joins King & Wood Mallesons
Benjamin Bai returned to private practice in May as a partner in King & Wood Mallesons’ Shanghai office. Prior to his in-house roles at fintech companies Ant Group and Amber Group, Bai worked for Jones Day and Allen Overy in China.
King & Wood Mallesons to cooperate with Eversheds Sutherland
King & Wood Mallesons (China) and Eversheds Sutherland (International) have signed a formal cooperation agreement, which includes referring work to each other in certain jurisdictions. In its press release, the firm said: “KWM (China) will refer all future matters requiring legal advice in the UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa and South America to Eversheds Sutherland (International). Further, clients of Eversheds Sutherland (International) requiring PRC legal advice will be referred to KWM (China).”
We also understand that KWM (China) will no longer operate in Europe and the Middle East and its staff will be invited to join the offices of Eversheds Sutherland (International).
Americas
McDermott Will & Emery strengthens IP transactions practice in California
McDermott Will & Emery welcomed IP transactional lawyers Shaalu Mehra (Silicon Valley) and Matthew King (Los Angeles) as partners in its transactions practice in California.
Dentons hires patent litigator in New York
Stephen Yang has joined Dentons’ IP and technology practice as a partner in New York. Yang specialises in patent litigation and Section 337 investigations.
Dechert gained two patent partners
Dechert hired life sciences and chemistry patent attorney John P Rearick as a partner in its IP practice in Boston. Rearick was previously with Choate Hall & Stewart. The news follows the return of Nisha Patel Gupta, who joined the firm’s Silicon Valley office in May after just over a year at LinkedIn.
Sullivan & Cromwell hires Iancu and O’Malley
Sullivan & Cromwell has brought in former USPTO director Andrei Iancu and former judge Kathleen O’Malley as partner and counsel, respectively. They were previously with Irell & Manella in Washington, DC. Iancu will be based in Los Angeles, California, while O’Malley will be in Washington, DC.
Cherian hired North
IP litigator John L North joined the boutique law firm Cherian as a partner. North was previously with Hill Kertscher & Wharton North in Atlanta, Georgia.
Scott McKeown joins Wolf Greenfield
PTAB lawyer Scott McKeown has joined Wolf Greenfield as a partner in its post-grant proceedings practice. McKeown joined from Ropes & Gray, where he was the chair of its PTAB practice.
EMEA
La Gro Geelkerken hires an IP litigator
Marleen van den Horst joined La Gro Geelkerken as a partner in February 2023. Van den Horst, who specialises in patent litigation, was previously with BarentsKrans.
Bird & Bird recruits a Rising Star
IP litigator Carlos van Staveren joined Bird & Bird as a counsel in its IP department. Van Staveren joined from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek.
Reed Smith hires an IP lawyer in the UAE
Reed Smith hired entertainment and media lawyer Jamie Ryder as a partner in its UAE offices. Ryder specialises in transactional IP work and was previously the head of DLA Piper’s IP practice in the Middle East.
PE-backed Ipsilon acquires IP Hills
Ipsilon announced its acquisition of Belgian firm IP Hills in June 2023. Waterland Private Equity backed the acquisition.
Abril Abogados splits with Jacobacci & Partners
In 2020, Abril Abogados and the Spanish office of Jacobacci & Partners announced their merger to form Jacobacci Abril Abogados. IP STARS now understands that this partnership ended in June 2023.
Judy McCullagh joins FRKelly
FRKelly welcomed trade mark attorney Judy McCullagh as a partner in its trade mark practice. McCullagh was previously with Finnegan, where she was a key partner for its IP practice in Ireland.
Taylor Wessing launches a MENA IP practice
The international firm announced in July 2023 that it had appointed Munir Suboh as a partner to lead its new IP practice in the Middle East and North Africa region. Suboh was the leader of BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates' IP practice.
Ashurst hires a UK head of IP
Former K&L Gates' special counsel Sunny Kumar has joined Ashurst as a partner in its London corporate practice. Kumar, who specialises in IP transactions, also joins as UK head of IP.
More firm news and people moves
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