Field Fisher Waterhouse‘s TMT practice has taken another hit as technology and outsourcing specialist Stewart Room is leaving for PwC, while head of trade marks Mark Holah is set to join Bird & Bird.
Room, who is to lead PwC’s cross-service offering on cyber and data security, is the latest in a series of hires for the accounting giant’s legal services capability.
A dual-qualified barrister and solicitor, Room’s departure date is unknown. He specialises in privacy, data protection and data security law, having joined Field Fisher as a partner in 2007 from Manchester-based Rowe Cohen.
In a statement, Field Fisher said: ‘We confirm that Stewart Room has resigned from the partnership of Field Fisher Waterhouse and is joining PwC to lead their cross-service offering on cyber and data security. This is at an early stage and so we are not in a position to comment any further on a departure date. We would like to thank Stewart for his dedicated service to the firm. Separately, we also confirm that four additional associates have been recruited to and four associates have resigned from the privacy and Information team. Partners Simon Briskman in London and Phil Lee in Palo Alto will continue to oversee privacy & information team.
‘Our technology & outsourcing practice will also be expanding its client offering in the North West region in conjunction with our recent merger with Heatons in Manchester. Our privacy & information team still remains the largest in the UK and together with our US and EU offices serves global organisations with European privacy concerns. The team includes the highly regarded Phil Lee and Nick Holland, as well 10 dedicated privacy lawyers including associates and directors.’
Also departing Field Fisher is Holah, who leads the trade marks and brand protection group – part of the firm’s intellectual property practice. He will join former TMT practice colleagues Graeme Payne, Victoria Hobbs, Allan Poulter and high-profile former IP and technology head Mark Abell at Bird & Bird. Holah joined Field Fisher in 2000 from DLA Piper before being made partner in 2002.
Field Fisher has suffered a spate of partner departures in recently, including its head of privacy and information Eduardo Ustaran, who is being held to a 19-month notice period by the firm before he is able to move to Hogan Lovells’ global privacy and information practice.
Dentons has also benefited from the departures, with franchising partner Babette Marzheuser-Wood who was hired last September to help build the firm’s franchising practice in the UK and Europe, as well as its capabilities in the hotel, leisure and retail sectors.
francesca.fanshawe@legalease.co.uk
