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 Asia Pacific region.
AUSTRALIA
Francis Gurry joined IPH as strategic advisor
ASX-listed company IPH appointed former WIPO director general Francis Gurry as its strategic advisor. The company owns IP firms such as AJ Park, Griffith Hack and Shelston IP. The company also recently appointed former Uber executive Aaron LePoidevin as the managing director of Griffith Hack.
Baker McKenzie appointed a new global IP leader
Anne-Marie Allgrove, a Sydney-based technology lawyer, is the new global chair of the Baker McKenzie’s IP, data and technology practice. Allgrove took over from copyright star Ben Allgrove, who is based in the UK.
Spruson & Ferguson promoted 10 practitioners
IP firm Spruson & Ferguson promoted 10 practitioners to the position of principal across its Asia offices, including Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The practitioners promoted include Rory Anderson, Robert Jackson, Scott Philp, and Grace Wong Hui.
Thomson Geer welcomes IP transactions team
Corporate law firm Thomson Geer hired IP lawyer Andrew Chalet as a partner in its Melbourne office. Chalet brought with him Peytee Grusche and Stephanie McHugh. They were previously with Russell Kennedy and specialise in IP-related transactions.
CHINA
DaHui Lawyers strengthens IP practice with new hire
DaHui Lawyers hired Xiang (Teresa) Li as a partner in its Beijing office. Li, who specialises in patent litigation, previously worked for Fangda Partners and the State Intellectual Property Office of China. She also held an in-house role.
Jia Yuan Law Offices welcomes new IP partner in Shanghai
Jia Yuan Law Offices hired IP lawyer Huan Mo as a partner in its Shanghai office. Prior to joining the firm, she was an attorney at Ropes & Gray.Mo focuses her practice on advising life sciences and technology companies.
Haiwen & Partners hired a trade mark specialist
Haiwen & Partners welcomed Qiang Ma as a partner in its Beijing office. Ma specialises in soft IP work, in particular trade marks, and was previously with JunHe.
SIPS appointed a new IP partner
SIPS promoted Joshua Miller to the position of partner in its Shanghai’s office. Miller specialises in contentious and non-contentious trade mark work.
INDONESIA
Januar Jahja & Partners welcomed three IP practitioners
Jakarta-based IP boutique Januar Jahja & Partners strengthened its patent and litigation practice by recruiting Wulan Mogesmiranti, Mitha Fuji Adiati and John. Mogesmiranti and John are licensed lawyers while Adiati, who has a background in chemical engineering, is a patent protection specialist.
NEW ZEALAND
AJ Park promoted two practitioners and completed Baldwins acquisition
The firm promoted patent attorney Sarah Barclay to the position of principal and made trade mark specialist Ben Sullivan a senior associate in the firm. The firm also announced the completion of its acquisition of IP firm Baldwins.
More firm news and people moves
Read our previous roundups: Americas here and Asia Pacific here.
