The IP STARS research team keeps a close watch on lateral hires, departures and other developments in firms and companies. Below is a roundup of some of the people moves and firm/company news in the Asia Pacific region this year.
AUSTRALIA
Lander & Rogers hires IT/IP partner
Australian law firmLander & Rogers hired Lisa Fitzgerald as a partner in its corporate law practice. Fitzgerald specializes in IT law, with experience in IP/technology transactions. She was previously with Allens.
CHINA
AnJie Law Firm welcomes new partner
AnJie Law Firm hired IP lawyer Xu Zhao as a partner in its Shanghai office. Zhao, who specialises in life sciences patent work, joined from EY Chen & Co Law Firm.
Chang Tsi & Partners opens in South Korea
Chang Tsi & Partners opened a new office in Seoul, South Korea, its first office outside China. According to its press release, this new office is part of the firm’s international practice ambitions in the region.
Gowling WLG hires a former judge
Ivy Liang joined the Guangzhou office of Gowling WLG as a legal director. Liang was the presiding judge at Guangzhou Nansha District People’s Court, where she was also the deputy director of the court’s IP division.
Tahota Law Firm launches two new offices
Commercial law firm Tahota Law Firm has launched new offices in Wuhan and Haikou, further expanding its presence in China.
HONG KONG SAR
Ella Cheong & Alan Chiu Solicitors & Notaries has rebranded as ELLALAN. The firm’s Chinese name 張淑姬趙之威律師行remains unchanged. The firm also changed the name of its Beijing IP agency to ELLALAN (Beijing) IP Limited.
INDIA
Chadha & Chadha hires former associate as partner
Chadha & Chadha welcomed back former associate Gaurav Chhibber as a partner in its patents practice. Chhibber, who specialises in computer technology patent work, left the firm in 2018 for an in-house role in Tata Motors.
MALAYSIA
LAW Partnership appoints new IP partner
Boutique firm LAW Partnership hired former Shearn Delamore & Co lawyer Ameet Kaur Purba as a partner.Purba specialises in soft IP work, particularly trade mark protection and enforcement.
NEW ZEALAND
AJ Park agrees to acquire Baldwins
New Zealand IP boutique AJ Park announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire its competitor Baldwins. Subject to certain conditions, including approval by the New Zealand Commerce Commission, the deal is expected to be finalized by third quarter 2020. According to the firm’s press release, “Baldwins will join the AJ Park business and operate as one firm”. AJ Park is one of the IP firms owned by the publicly listed company IPH Limited.
Another development in the firm is the appointment of Andrea Dickens as its new managing director.Dickens succeeds trade mark principal Damian Broadley
SINGAPORE
Eversheds Harry Elias demerger
The 2017 merger between Eversheds Sutherland and Harry Elias Partnership came to an end on June 30 2020. Both firms will operate independently from July 1 2020, with the name Eversheds Harry Elias reverting to Harry Elias Partnership, but they hope to maintain some working relationship.
RHTLaw Asia and Taylor Wessing ends alliance
RHTLaw Asia and Taylor Wessing have ended their eight-year official alliance but will still maintain some working relationship. Their joint press release said: “After 8 years, we have decided to move towards a collaborative relationship in place of our formal links to enable both businesses to pursue longer term objectives in accordance with their respective strategies.”
More firm news and people moves
Read our previous roundups: Americas here, EMEA here, and Asia Pacific here.