The IP STARS research team keeps a close watch on lateral hires, departures and other developments in firms. Below is a roundup of some of the recent people moves and firm news in the EMEA region.

 

Osborne Clarke hired a patent litigator

Osborne Clarke strengthened its IP team in December 2020 with the hire of Tim Harris from Bird & Bird. Harris specialises in patent disputes in the life sciences sector.

 

DLA Piper appointed a new head of IP in Ukraine

Natalia Kirichenko is now the head of DLA Piper’s IP and technology practice in Ukraine. Kirichenko, who is a legal director in the firm’s Kyiv office, advises on contentious and non-contentious IP work. She succeeds Natalia Pakhomovska, an IP/TMT partner who left the firm in November 2020.

 

A Kent-based IP firm merged with Venner Shipley

Venner Shipley announced in November 2020 that it merged with Brookes IP, a trade mark and patent attorney firm based in Kent. Brookes IP’s practitioners, including partners Clare Turnbull, Jane Martin, Rosemary Eve and Jonathan Hancox, have joined the firm. Turnbull and Martin are trade mark attorneys while Eve and Hancox are patent attorneys.

 

Waselius & Wist hired an IP Star

Åsa Krook joined Waselius & Wist as a partner in its IP department. Krook, who was previously with Borenius, was recognised in the 2020 edition of Managing IP’s Top 250 Women in IP publication. She specialises in soft IP work.

 

Simmons & Simmons hired a Rising Star

Simmons & Simmons welcomed Oscar Lamme as a partner in its IP practice in Amsterdam. Lamme, who specialises in patent litigation, joined from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek. He was ranked in the 2019 edition of Managing IP’s Rising Stars publication.

 

IP Star launched a new boutique in the UAE

Clyde & Co’s former Middle East head of IP Rob Deans has set up his own firm in the UAE called Deans IP. Deans brought along associate Adam Cusworth.

 

Keystone Law hired two IP Stars

Keystone Law welcomed Simon Chalkley and Fiona Nicolson as consultant solicitors. Chalkley joined in June from Wiggin while Nicolson joined in September from Bristows. Both lawyers specialise in IP transactional work. Keystone Law is an AIM-listed law firm that operates an alternative business model with self-employed lawyers supported by technology and central support staff.

 

Schellenberg Wittmer hired an IP Star

Lorenza Ferrari Hofer joined Schellenberg Wittmer as a partner in its IP and life sciences practice. Hofer is best known for advising on IP transactional and regulatory matters in the life sciences sector. She joined from Pestalozzi Attorneys at Law, where she was head of IP.

 

TRINITI AND JUREX merge in Lithuania

Baltic law firms JUREX and TRINITI have merged to form a new firm in Lithuania called TRINITI JUREX. The combined firm will be home to more than 70 lawyers, including three partners in its IP department. Vilija Viešūnaitė is the firm’s managing partner and head of IP.

 

Norton Rose Fulbright hired an IP partner in Saudi Arabia

Norton Rose Fulbright hired IP lawyer Zayd Alathari as a partner in its Riyadh office. Alathari joined from Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, where he served as senior manager & IP counsel for the Middle East and Africa. Norton Rose Fulbright operates in the country through its collaboration with Mohammed Al-Ghamdi Law Firm.

 

Potter Clarkson expanded its Nordic IP team

Potter Clarkson has further expanded its IP practice in the Nordic region by hiring trade mark attorney Lars Karnøe as a partner in its Aarhus office in Denmark. The firm also welcomed Louise Aaby Jørgensen and Jakob Andersen as associates. Karnøe and Jørgensen joined from Plougmann Vingtoft.

 

Bardehle Pagenberg expanded Düsseldorf IP team

Alexander Haertel joined the firm’s Düsseldorf office in the summer. Haertel deals with patent litigation in sectors such as automotive and telecoms. He was previously with Kather Augenstein.

 

Morgan Lewis & Bockius strengthened IP practice in London

Morgan Lewis hired IP Star Nicholas Bolter as a partner in its IP department in London. Bolter, who specialises in trade mark, was previously with Cooley. He brought along his junior IP colleagues, including four associates.

 

Eversheds Sutherland transferred its UK Branding Group to Konexo

The international law firm announced in June that it transferred its UK branding group to Konexo UK, an alternative legal services entity within Eversheds Sutherland (International). The branding group, which provides trade mark and design protection services, is led by trade mark attorney and lawyer Kate Ellis.

 

Virtuoso Legal strengthened its team

IP boutique Virtuoso Legal hired former Gowling WLG lawyer Charlie Bond as a senior associate. He specialises in trade mark protection and disputes, but can also advise on patent disputes. Virtuoso Legal was founded in 2007 by Elizabeth Ward, a lawyer best known for her trade mark practice.

 

More firm news and people moves

Read our previous roundups: EMEA here; Americas here and the Asia Pacific here.