Simmons & Simmons IP Stars Mark Heaney and David Stone will follow Marjan Noor and Marc Döring to Allen & Overy, the firm announced today. Heaney is highly rated in IT/telecoms patent litigation and was formerly IP partner at Bird & Bird and Baker Botts, from which he joined Simmons & Simmons last October. Stone is renowned in trade marks and among the leading authorities in UK and EU design law. He joined Simmons & Simmons in September 2008 and is a member of its Brexit hotline team.
A&O recently highlighted that its IP practice is becoming a “strategic growth area”, and Head of IP Litigation Nicola Dagg says the firm’s ambition is to create “a full-service, top-ranked IP practice”. The appointments will indeed strengthen its UK IP team. In IP Stars 2016 both firms are ranked in tier 2 for patent litigation in the UK, though Simmons & Simmons is ranked higher for trade mark work. A&O has confirmed that Döring and Noor have already moved over but yet to confirm the effective date for Heaney and Stone.
Taylor P. Evans has joined Hogan Lovell’s IP/Media and Technology practice as partner. He will be based in the firm's Houston office. Evans is best known for advising energy sector clients on contentious and non-contentious IP matters. “Hogan Lovells’ global IPMT and energy experience includes strong litigation, deal, and transactional work, which will benefit from Taylor’s IP practice,” said Bruce Oakley, Managing Partner of the firm’s Houston office. Evans was formerly an IP partner at law firm Bracewell.
IP disputes specialist Charles D. Ossola has rejoined law firm Hunton & Williams. He spent 14 years at the firm before moving to Dickstein Shapiro and, most recently, Vinson & Elkins. “I am excited about returning ‘home’ and contributing to its [Hunton & Williams’] further success,” he said. Ossola represents clients in a range of technical fields before the courts, ITC and arbitration. He joins Hunton & Williams as partner and will be based in its offices in Washington DC.