The list of partner departures from King & Wood Mallesons’ City office is getting longer each week with Mishcon de Reya the latest beneficiary after picking up IP veteran Ray Black.
Following two partner departures in London last week, with financial markets partner Gregg Beechey quitting to join Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson and private equity partner Simon Fulbrook resigning to join Goodwin Procter, KWM is struggling to stop the run of partner exits following its merger with SJ Berwin in October 2013.
Black leaves KWM after more than 24 years at KWM and its legacy firm SJ Berwin, having established its City IP practice in 1991. He led the team until 2009 and spearheaded expansion into Italy and Germany during his time at the helm.
As a well-known figure in City IP spheres, Black specialises in the protection, exploitation and enforcement of IP, having represented luxury brands Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs and DKNY; television shopping company QVC; and computer games giant Nintendo. He trained and qualified at Slaughter and May before joining Baker & McKenzie’s Hong Kong office in 1977. He made partner in 1982 and established the US firm’s IP practice in South East Asia.
Jeremy Hertzog, head of Mishcon’s intellectual property department, said: ‘Ray’s extensive and varied background in IP law complements our existing practice. He has worked across a broad range of sectors on significant cases for high-profile clients and is consequently incredibly well connected both here and internationally. He will be an asset to the team and we very much look forward to working with him.’
tom.moore@legalease.co.uk