Managing IP – White & Case eyes European litigation expansion after marquee signing

White & Case made a splash in the London market in February when it announced the appointments of three intellectual property partners from A&O Shearman. Led by the renowned David Stone, the former global head of IP at Allen & Overy, the group also comprises partners Adrian Dykes and Karla Hughes.

In an interview with Managing IP, White & Case partner and Head of the Firm’s Global Intellectual Property (IP) Practice Yar Chaikovsky said the arrivals mark an “important milestone” for both the London office and the Firm’s Global IP Practice and ties in with the growth of White & Case’s IP capabilities in the US, where the Firm has added more than 10 partners since the start of 2023.

Stone said his new team’s remit will include expanding the IP litigation practice in London and Europe so that the Firm can “mirror the excellence it already has in the US.”

Commenting on the need to capitalise on the Firm’s US expertise, Hughes said: “The US capabilities are extremely important – many clients have needs in the US, and you can’t put a value on being able to pick up the phone to a colleague.”

Dykes, who with Stone and Hughes focuses on ‘soft’ IP litigation (trademarks and designs), said he expects he and his new colleagues to broadly work across four pillars: soft IP litigation; global trademark portfolio management; complex non-court disputes; and corporate support, adding: “White & Case’s IP offering is both patent and ‘soft’ IP so it’s important to be able to provide a fully rounded service. If we want to be the go-to destination for clients, we have to offer to protect and enforce a full spectrum of IP rights on a global platform.”

Concluding on the reasons for the move, Stone explained: “At this stage in my career, what’s especially important to me are our clients and our team. Clients want excellent service at a reasonable price, and alongside that, the team wants to be doing excellent work in a convivial atmosphere. White & Case provides both of those opportunities.”

The full article can be found here (paywall).

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