TMT practices in focus as law firms boost capabilities
As one of the fastest growing business sectors, the technology media and telecoms is becoming increasingly important for law firms and two international firms have announced key hires for their TMT practices.
Ashurst has boosted its global TMT capabilities with the addition of Nick Elverston and Amanda Hale. Both join from
Herbert Smith Freehills, where Elverston is currently co-head of the TMT practice. Hale’s experience includes a time as general counsel at the UK telecoms regulator.
The pair will be based in London but will also work with Ashurst’s TMT team in Australia to grow the global offering.
Meanwhile at Allen & Overy, Tom Butcher returns to the firm to head up the TMT and IP practices in the firm’s Middle East region. He has spent the past two years at Simmons & Simmons.
Managing counsel announced for 2 Birds IP team
Gene Kwek has been appointed managing counsel for Bird & Bird’s IP practice in Singapore. He joins from Infinitus Law Corporation where he was associate director and was previously with Baker & McKenzie Wong & Leow.
Kwek also served as brand counsel for Proctor & Gamble where he handled all trade mark related matters for a stable of well-known brands across Asia, Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan and Greater China.
Duo join maritime team at Clifford Chance
Gervais Green and Kate Sherrard are joining the Singapore office of Clifford Chance as partners in the maritime, offshore and project finance offering. The pair are both currently at Norton Rose Fulbright in the city state; Green is expected to move in April while Sherrard will not join until September.
Google sued for $9.3 billion over software copyright claim
The developers of the computer language Java are to return to court in a bid to prove that Google infringed its copyright. Oracle sued the internet giant six years ago claiming that Google’s use of Java in its Android phones and tablets was an infringement of its IP. Google used the ‘fair use’ defence but the jury was split.
The new trial begins May 9 in San Francisco and now includes 6 new versions of the Android operating system. The $9.3 billion figure roughly equates to twice the profit made by Google in its last quarter and is 10 times the amount sought in the original litigation. Google denies that it has infringed Oracle’s IP.
