Industry moves and mergers
Rod Freeman
Cooley has announced the addition of Rod Freeman to its London office as a partner. Freeman, who joins from Hogan Lovells, has extensive experience representing and counselling major technology companies in matters such as international product launches, compliance issues and product litigation.
Adam Siegartel has joined the New York office of Haynes and Boone, where he will lead the firm’s brand management group. He previously headed the trademark prosecution and brand management group at Proskauer.
David Stone
In London, Allen & Overy IP partner David Stone has been appointed a deputy high court judge by the lord chief justice of England and Wales. Stone will sit up to 30 days each year in the Chancery Division, London, to hear a range of commercial cases.
David Leichtman – previously at Robins Kaplan, Hogan Lovells and Morgan Lewis – has launched a new boutique firm focusing on trial work for business and IP matters. Leichtman Law, based in New York, will handle international and domestic business and IP litigation of all types, including in the media and entertainment, financial services and life sciences sectors.
DLA Piper has announced that 46 lawyers have been advanced to its partnership. The promotions were made across many of the firm’s practice areas in 12 countries. In terms of trademark practice, Patrick Mitchell – a media and sports lawyer in the London office – and John M Nading in Washington DC were among the promotions. Mitchell’s sports work focuses on buying and selling media rights, sponsorship and other rights of association, together with all other areas involved in establishing and monetising events. Nading practises in the areas of trademarks and unfair competition, copyright and domain names, and related internet matters.
Richard Wylie
Richard Wylie at HGF has also been promoted to partner. Wylie has in-depth experience of all aspects of trademark work, including strategy development, clearance and registration, disputes, enforcement and due diligence.
Spruson & Ferguson has opened a new office in Melbourne Australia, staffed by a new team of trademark professionals. The Melbourne office will be headed by Tim Allen, who joins the firm as a principal. He will lead a team of five trademark practitioners: Natalia Blecher (senior associate); Christina Linforth-Barker (senior associate); Brooke Walker (senior trademark practitioner); Silke Henning (trademark practitioner); and Tony Paton (trademark paralegal).
Jeremy Richardson joins Michelman & Robinson as a partner in its New York office. Richardson works primarily on matters concerning children’s apparel, accessories and furniture, advising on copyright and trademark claims, as well as contract disputes.
Karen Taylor
Karen Taylor of Anaqua has been appointed general manager for Asia Pacific. Based in Hong Kong, she will lead personnel and drive sales and marketing activities and strategic partnerships across the region.
Clyde & Co has announced the completion of its network of IP offices across the Gulf Cooperation Council countries with the addition of an office in Kuwait. The newest addition provides trademark and patent filing capabilities and adds to the existing network, which includes presences in Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Peter Bolger has been promoted to head of intellectual property, technology and privacy at LK Shields. Bolger brings 20 years’ experience assisting national and international clients on IP and commercial transactions (domestic and cross border), their IP strategies, data protection and privacy, technology law and prosecutions.