Perkins Coie has added CMS IP co-head Caitlin Heard to its patent litigation platform in London.
The move comes ahead of the US firm’s planned merger with City firm Ashurst which is expected to complete later this year after a partner vote.
CMS’ IP co-head Caitlin Heard is moving to Perkins Coie ahead of its planned merger with Ashurst.
The tech patent disputes specialist has spent her entire career so far at CMS, spending 16 years at the firm. She became a partner in 2019 and was appointed co-head of the firm’s international IP group last year.
She acts for clients before the Unified Patent Court - the single patent court for EU member states - and is experienced in Standard Essential Patent and FRAND licensing disputes, an increasingly salient area of work for TMT patent litigators.
She also advises life sciences clients on IP strategy and acts in contentious soft IP proceedings.
The move was first reported by Managing IP.
Merger incoming
Heard’s hire comes as Seattle-headquartered Perkins heads towards a transatlantic merger with Ashurst, a combination that will create a global firm focused on tech, energy, infrastructure and financial services.
The combined firm will be known as Ashurst Perkins Coie and is expected to generate $2.7 billion in revenue and comprise around 3,000 lawyers across 52 offices worldwide. It is expected to complete later this year, subject to a partner vote.
Launched in London just two years ago with a major focus on fast-growing tech clients, Perkins Coie is known for its big name technology clients such as Amazon and Microsoft, with offices in tech hubs such as Silicon Valley as well as across major global financial cities.
The London office has around seven partners, with recent additions including AI specialist Arnav Joshi from Clifford Chance and competition partner Miranda Cole from Norton Rose Fulbright.
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