DLA Piper's London boss heads to Eversheds in major IP push

Eversheds Sutherland has hired DLA Piper’s London managing partner Ruth Hoy, alongside IP litigator Huw Cookson, in a senior move in the City’s contentious IP market.

Hoy, a highly ranked IP disputes specialist with more than 25 years’ experience, leaves DLA after more than two decades at the firm. She was appointed managing partner of its London office in 2022 and has previously led its IP and technology practice in the City.

Cookson joins as a partner, having been a legal director at DLA with a focus on IP disputes and enforcement.

The hires strengthen Eversheds’ contentious IP offering as firms compete for senior talent in the space. The firm said it is aiming to position itself as a “go to” adviser for contentious IP matters.

Recent senior City moves include Perkins Coie poaching CMS’ IP co-head Caitlin Heard ahead of its planned merger with Ashurst, and Taylor Wessing hiring Jereemy Drew, one of the City’s top IP lawyers, from RPC ahead of its own merger with Winston & Strawn.

Simon Gamlin, partner and head of Eversheds’ commercial advisory practice group, said the hires reflect the firm’s ambition to build “one of the strongest contentious IP offerings in the market”.

David Wilkinson, UK head of intellectual property, added that Hoy is “one of the most respected IP litigators in the UK”, with Cookson bringing “deep expertise in brand protection and enforcement”.

Changes at DLA

The exits come at a time of broader structural change at DLA Piper. The firm is set to dissolve its long-standing Swiss verein structure in May in favour of a more integrated global model, moving towards unified management and shared profits, subject to partner approval.