Industry moves and mergers

Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen has announced that Delia Belciu has been promoted to managing associate.

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has appointed Meryl Hershkowitz as the new deputy commissioner for trademark operations. Hershkowitz will oversee the examination and processing of trademark applications.

Hogan Lovells has announced that Jason D Lohr has joined its IP, media and technology practice as a partner in the San Francisco office.

Christoph Rieken has joined Noerr as an associated partner in the Munich office. Rieken previously headed the IP practice at Ashurst.

Michael Bednarek has joined Locke Lord LLP as a partner in the Washington DC office. He will be a member of the IP department.

IP boutiques Hoyng Monegier and Reimann Osterrieth Köhler Haft are joining forces to become Hoyng Rokh Monegier. The new firm will commence operations in the course of 2015. It will have offices in Amsterdam, Brussels, Dusseldorf, Madrid, Mannheim (branch office) and Paris. The team will comprise around 100 IP professionals, including 36 partners.

Sutton McAughan Deaver PLLC has announced the arrival of attorney Elizabeth W King as a principal. King’s experience includes working as an examining attorney at the USPTO.

Edwin Coe has announced that Eric and Maggie Ramage, as well as a team of trademark attorneys and formalities staff from Alexander Ramage Associates, have joined its IP team.

Quarles & Brady LLP has announced that Jonathan Hudis has joined its Washington DC office as a partner in the IP practice group.

Lawrence Yeung has joined AWA Asia, working as counsel in its Hong Kong office.

IP boutique Kacvinsky Daisak Bluni PLLC has announced the opening of offices in Boston and Washington DC.

Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP has announced that Yuri Mikulka has joined its IP practice as a partner in the Orange County office. Mikulka joins from Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, where she chaired the IP practice group.

Reed Smith LLP has announced the expansion of its global IP practice with the addition of six leading attorneys in three US markets. Among them, Katherine M Basile - former co-chair of Novak Druce’s trademark practice - joins Reed Smith’s Silicon Valley office as a partner; while former USPTO examining attorney Jason Garcia joins as counsel.

Canadian law firm Fogler Rubinoff has appointed Ashlee Froese as a partner in its IP practice.