After announcing two major City finance hires last week, DLA Piper has hired Paul Reeskamp as a partner in the firm’s IP and technology group. Reeskamp joins the Amsterdam office from top tier Dutch IP outfit Klos Morel Vos & Reeskamp, where he was partner and head of patent litigation, and brings with him associate Marijn van der Wal.
DLA international group head of IP & technology Stephane Lemarchand said: ‘As a firm, we are committed to offering a top-notch European patent practice when the Unified Patent court system comes into effect and Paul will be a significant addition to our team.’
Eversheds has also made a key IP hire, appointing Deon de Beer as a partner in the firm’s Johannesburg office. De Beer is a patent attorney who joins from Dessington de Beer attorneys and represents clients in a variety of technical fields including material science, mechanical and software.
Eversheds also announced last week the hire of Gordons head of property litigation Andrew Todd. The expansion of the firm’s property team follows the recent hire to the Eversheds property practice of Pinsent Masons head of real estate litigation Stuart Wortley in September. Eversheds head of real estate litigation Paul Moorcroft said the appointment means the firm has 13 real estate litigation partners in the UK alone. He added: ‘It is a busy time and we are keen to keep adding to our senior resource, as we win new mandates and are increasingly instructed on high profile disputes. Andrew is known to many of us and will be a real asset to the team.’
Going the other way, Eversheds partner Jane Marshall is departing for Weightmans. Pensions and employment partner Marshall has more than 14 years’ experience and advises clients in local and central government, education and health sectors.
Stephenson Harwood has hired Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co (WLG) corporate finance partner Karima Hudson. Hudson, who had led WLG’s healthcare practice, is well-known in the healthcare sector and recently advised Formation Capital LLC on its £477m acquisition of NHP.
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has boosted its tax practice in London with a new hire from Deloitte. Tom Jarvis will join as a tax partner, having been a director in the Big Four firm’s M&A and funds tax group. WFW managing partner Chris Lowe said: ‘As a firm our focus continues to be providing cross-border legal advice within our core sectors and, with the addition of Tom, WFW can continue to build on our ability to provide extensive tax services across the firm’s core sectors.’
Meanwhile EY has hired Matthew Whalley as a director to lead the its legal risk practice. Whalley joins from Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) where he started the firm’s risk practice. EY financial services UK law leader Matthew Kellett said: ‘At a time when the regulatory lens is so keenly focused on how financial services firms are managing their risk, Matthew’s expertise will be extremely welcome to our financial services clients.’
victoria.young@legalease.co.uk
