Industry moves and mergers

Merri Moken, formerly of Holland & Knight, has joined Paul Hastings’ IP practice as of counsel in the New York office. Moken is a litigator, handling patent, trademark, trade secret and contract matters. She also gives strategic advice and specialises in the life sciences and technology sectors.

Mathys & Squire has announced the strategic hire of IP partner Andreas Wietzke, who joins the firm as a partner from German patent attorneys Bals & Vogel. The move means that Mathys & Squire now has two partners in its new Munich office, which opened in July 2019. Wietzke is a German patent attorney and a European patent, trademark and design attorney.

Foley Hoag partner Barbara Fiacco has been named president of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA). In the role, Fiacco is responsible for representing US IP interests around the world and guiding the association’s domestic IP policy. Fiacco’s active leadership roles within AIPLA span well over a decade. In addition to her service on its executive committee, she has served on its board of directors and as chair of the legislation committee, the patent law committee and the membership committee.

Quarles & Brady has welcomed Megan Peccarelli as senior counsel to the IP team. Peccarelli’s practice focuses on trademark clearance, prosecution, maintenance, enforcement and litigation. She will be working out of the firm’s Milwaukee office.

Christian Hawthorne has been appointed to associate within Kilpatrick Townsend’s trademark and copyright team in Seattle; she handles prosecution and enforcement matters relating to trademarks and advises on copyright protection. The firm also recently hired Jessica Truelove as an associate in the trademark and copyright team in the Atlanta office and appointed Betsy Bengtson to associate in the Denver-based trademark and copyright team.

Ashfords has appointed Clare Jackman to partner in the firm’s IP practice. Jackman is an experienced trademark attorney, having previously held the position of UK head of trademarks at Norton Rose Fulbright. She specialises in the financial, energy, transport, media, healthcare, retail, consumer brands and luxury goods sectors.

Insurer Tokio Marine Kiln (TMK) has announced the appointment of Aoife Woulfe to the newly created role of head of intellectual property. Woulfe will report to the head of enterprise risk, Laila Khudairi, focusing on the development of new IP products and wordings, accelerating the growth of TMK’s IP book and enlarging the IP team.

Michael Best has announced the expansion of its Raleigh presence with the acquisition of Felton Banks and the addition of Bernard Brown, previously a senior associate at Brinks Gilson & Lione. The Felton Banks group includes founding partners Ashley Felton and Adam Banks. Brown has joined the firm as senior counsel in the IP group.

Thomas T Moga has joined Dykema as senior counsel in its IP and IP litigation department. Moga has more than 30 years’ experience in building and enforcing IP portfolios, including the development of domestic and foreign patent portfolios, the acquisition of registrations for trademarks and copyrights, licensing and policy development.

Dentons has welcomed partner Matthew Diskin and associate Meredith Bacal to its litigation and dispute resolution group. Diskin is an experienced IP, entertainment and commercial litigator, regularly advising clients on international disputes regarding jurisdiction and the enforcement of foreign judgments and foreign letters of request. Bacal, a registered trademark agent, focuses her practice on media, entertainment and technology litigation.

IP attorney Karen Won has joined Mintz. Experienced at handling all trademark matters ranging from prosecution to transactions, Won works with large and small companies alike, and has a special focus on the life sciences sector.

Jennifer Hoekel has joined Husch Blackwell as a partner in the technology, manufacturing and transportation group as part of the IP litigation practice team. Hoekel handles the full range of disputes, representing clients in trademark, copyright and advertising-related matters.

Arnold & Porter’s IP practice has gained litigator Beatriz San Martin, who has joined the firm’s London office. San Martin specialises in matters relating to life sciences and emerging technologies, and litigates and counsels on matters relating to copyright, trademarks, passing off, design rights, database rights and confidential information.

Litigator Seth Gold has been appointed to partner within Barnes & Thornburg’s IP department in Los Angeles. Gold – who joins from K&L Gates – concentrates on a variety of IP and commercial litigation matters, including trials and appeals before the state and federal courts. He also focuses on issues relating to false advertising, online advertising across digital platforms, brand protection and enforcement, as well as IP transactions.