The IP STARS research team keeps a close watch on lateral hires, departures and other developments in the market. Below is a roundup of some of the IP practitioners that recently left their firms.

 

PEOPLE MOVES

 

UNITED STATES

STATE PRACTITIONER PREVIOUSLY NEW FIRM/COMPANY
TX Jamil Alibhai Munck Wilson Mandala Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr
TX Phillip Aurentz McKool Smith Sidley Austin
TX Aimee Fagan McKool Smith Sidley Austin
NY Paul Fakler Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe Mayer Brown
DE Kelly Farnan Farnan LLP Richards Layton & Finger
NY Michael Furrow DLA Piper Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton
TX Matthew Gibson Reed Smith Barnes & Thornburg
WA Melissa Harwood Wilson Sonsini Polsinelli
CA April Isaacson DLA Piper Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton
MN Jonathan Jay Hellmuth & Johnson Hinshaw & Culbertson
TX Steven Malin Chen Malin (now Chen Leftwich) Law Office of Steven Malin
FL Rebecca McFayden Akerman Polsinelli
IL Michelle McMullen McDonnell Boehnen Polsinelli
CA Rasheed McWilliams Zuber Lawler & Del Duca Davis Wright Tremaine
GA Shane Nichols Alston & Bird McDermott Will & Emery
NY Brian O'Reilly DLA Piper Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton
FL Sergei Orel Law Office of Sergei Orel Munck Wilson Mandala
FL Robert Rodriguez Shutts & Bowen Polsinelli
DC Susan Smith Hunton Andrews Kurth Ballard Spahr
MA Shana Solomon Velocity Sciences Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe
CA David Stein Greenberg Gross BrownRudnick
NY Allison Stillman Mayer Brown Latham & Watkins
NV Adam Yowell  Brownstein Hyatt FisherBroyles

 

CANADA

PROVINCE PRACTITIONER PREVIOUSLY NEW FIRM/COMPANY
ON Alexis Vaughan Gowling WLG Lenczner Slaght
QC Denis Keseris Smart & Biggar Bereskin & Parr

 

FIRM NEWS AND MARKET UPDATES

 

ARGENTINA

Berton Moreno + Ojam has undergone an amicable dissolution which has resulted in two independent IP firms, Berton Moreno IP Law and Ojam Bullrich Flanzbaum.

 

BRAZIL

INPI launched a new site

In light of its 50th anniversary, the Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI Brazil) announced the launch of the English and Spanish versions of its website. The INPI Brazil intends to expand the international scope of its services as well as promote further partnerships to foster innovation, creativity and the protection of IP rights.

 

ClarkeModet recruited a legal director in Brazil

Ricardo Boclin joined ClarkeModet as a technical and legal services director in Brazil. Boclin, who has an engineering background, previously worked for Ouro Preto Advogados, Kasznar Leonardos and Momsen Leonardos & Cia.

 

ECUADOR

Falconi Puig Abogados announced in September that Cecilia Falconi Pérez took over from Carlos Alberto Arroyo Del Río Verdelli as its managing partner. Falconi Pérez, who is ranked as an IP Star, specialises in soft IP work.

 

MEXICO

The Mexican Federal Law for Protection of Industrial Property, which rescinds and replaces the Mexican Industrial Property Law, took effect in November. The new IP law makes several changes to the Mexican IP system. First published on July 1, the law modifies and clarifies some aspects of the prior legislation, including defining trade secrets.

 

UNITED STATES

In November, Milwaukee-based von Briesen & Roper acquired IP boutique Miller Matthias & Hull to launch an office in Chicago. The combination adds nine attorneys to the firm's new location.

Boutique firm HIP Legal merged with Nicholson De Vos Webster & Elliott in November. Nicholson De Vos is a Silicon Valey-based firm focusing on patent law. Patent Star Judith Szepesi is an employee of HIP Legal. 

 

VENEZUELA

Hoet Pelaez Castillo & Duque has changed its corporate image and name to Hoet & Partners. The firm said it had to rebrand to reflect its new business model and multidisciplinary team.

 

 

More firm news and people moves

Read our previous coverage of the Americas here and the Asia Pacific here.