Dentons UK launches patent prosecution practice, DLA Piper enters Portugal, Ropes & Gray to set up a new patent firm, Tucker Ellis takes Stinson’s IP litigator, Stinson hires IP Star, Merchant & Gould adds new patent attorney, Baker McKenzie hires soft IP lawyer in Texas, three new female IP partners at Gün + Partners, Beijing East IP appoints new patent director, and more latest people moves in the US on managingip.com.
Europe
Dentons UK launches patent prosecution practice
The firm announced that it has hired a team of patent attorneys from Olswang, including Justin Hill who was hired last year, to set up this new practice. They will officially join in May. Hill, who will join as partner, will lead the practice. This development was somewhat expected following last year’s announcement that Olswang will merge with Nabarro and CMS in May. Dentons has grown its IP practice in the last two years. All four are IP Stars-ranked firms.
DLA Piper enters Portugal
The firm has merged with its long-standing Portuguese partner ABBC. The latter will now operate in Portugal as DLA Piper. "Having a DLA Piper office in Portugal will complete our Iberian offering and enable us to service the many global and Spanish clients who need legal advice across Spain and Portugal, Latin America and, increasingly, Africa," said Juan Picon, DLA Piper’s co-chairman. The firm inherits ABBC’s IP Stars ranking in Portugal.
Three new female IP partners at Gün + Partners
The new partners are Güldeni̇z Doğan Alkan, Mutlu Yildirim Köse and Zeynep Seda Alhas. The firm also promoted three associates to managing associates. Gün + Partners is an IP Stars-ranked firm.
Americas
Ropes & Gray to set up a new patent firm
In its press release the firm said it plans “to restructure how it provides patent prosecution service to clients”, in a move that will see the creation of a new firm providing patent prosecution services. “Other Ropes & Gray lawyers, technical advisors and staff in the IP rights management practice are expected to join the new firm,” it added.
This development is expected to play out over the coming months and will be led by Joseph Guiliano, who heads up the firm’s IP rights management practice group. The firm’s chairman Brad Malt said: “We remain committed to providing world-class IP litigation capabilities, and we will continue offering our industry-leading IP transactions practice to clients.”
Managing IP reports that a number of partners have left the firm in recent months including IP Star Anita Varma who joined White & Case as partner. Ropes & Gray is an IP Stars-ranked firm.
Tucker Ellis takes Stinson’s IP litigator
The firm welcomed Sandra Wunderlich as partner in its office in St. Louis, Missouri. Wunderlich was formerly partner at Stinson Leonard Street, where she practised as an IP litigator for over two decades. Tucker Ellis’ partner Jay Campbell was listed as an IP Star in the 2016.
Stinson hires IP Star in Missouri
Having lost long-established IP litigator Sandra Wunderlich to Tucker Ellis, Stinson Leonard Street has hired IP litigator David Barnard as partner in its Kansas City office. Barnard, who was previously chair of the IP litigation practice at Lathrop & Gage, also advises on trade mark protection. He is joined by patent attorney David Kim. Stinson Leonard Street is an IP Stars-ranked firm.
Merchant & Gould adds new patent attorney
The firm has added to its growing IP practice in Denver, Colorado, with the hire of patent attorney Nancy Simon as senior counsel. Simon, who has a background in electrical engineering, joined the Electrical & Software practice group. She was previously with Brownstein Hyatt Farber & Schreck. Merchant & Gould is an IP Stars-ranked firm.
Baker McKenzie hires soft IP lawyer in Texas
The firm recruited Dyan House as Counsel in its North America IP practice, which has expanded in the last two years. House joins from Carter Scholer, where she was advising clients on trade mark, copyright and franchise matters and head of practice. She will be based in Baker McKenzie’s Dallas office. The firm was named Global IP Firm of the Year (2017) at Managing IP’s Global Awards ceremony in London last week. Baker McKenzie is an IP Stars-ranked firm.
More partner appointments in the US
McDermott Will & Emery, Arent Fox, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, Dykema Cox Smith and Haynes and Boone are among the IP Stars-ranked firms that have welcomed new IP partners recently. To find out who they hired see our US roundup here.
Asia
Beijing East IP appoints new patent director
The firm hired Erick Robinson as its director of patent litigation. Robinson was formerly chief patent counsel at the award-winning firm Rouse. He is a US patent attorney and litigator with a technical background in computer science and physics. Beijing East IP is an IP Stars-ranked firm.
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