Clifford Chance expands intellectual property practice with hire of Don McCrombie

Don McCrombie has joined Clifford Chance as an intellectual property partner, based in London, UK. He joins the global intellectual property group which is comprised of IP specialists who handle a broad range of IP disputes, prosecution and transactional work across the globe.

McCrombie joins from Ashurst where he led IP and technology-related disputes and transactions for clients in the TMT, software, fintech and life sciences sectors. He has advised on IP and commercial disputes before the English courts, the European Patent Office, the UK and EU Intellectual Property Offices, and in arbitrations.

"We are delighted to have Don in our growing IP team to help our clients with their most challenging IP disputes and transactions,” said Stephen Reese, IP partner at Clifford Chance. “Don's breadth of practice, combining his contentious IP experience and complex transactional expertise in the tech and the financial markets fields, is a rare quality within the IP ecosystem. His skillset is a critical component to our IP practice and his appointment reflects the firm's commitment to invest in and grow our global IP practice together with supporting the firm's leading multidisciplinary tech group.”

Clifford Chance’s integrated IP team has acted on challenging and sensitive projects including, most recently, across Covid19 matters, and major transactions for Mondelez and O2/Virgin media.

"Clifford Chance has a fantastic reputation for advising on the most complex matters, with high-profile clients in sectors that are perfectly aligned with my own transactional and contentious practice,” said McCrombie. “I look forward to contributing to the growth of the IP practice and the wider tech group, and working alongside a team of experts whose reputation in the market is unparalleled."