The firm said it was taking the step as its clients from North America and Asia increasingly required patent advice in Europe. Dr Justin Hill, who is also joining from Olswang, will head the Dentons team. Others include counsel Alexander Rees, senior patent attorney Marie Jansson Heeks, senior patent attorney Dr Louis Trichard, patent attorney Gemma Sparrow, trainee patent attorney Naznin Sheikh, senior docketing clerk Michael Folan and paralegal Paul McEvaddy.

European need

Dentons' UK Managing Partner Brandon Ransley said: ‘Our objective as a firm is to build a leading global patent capability.  We already have a very strong patent litigation and prosecution practice in the US. Clients from North America and Asia increasingly require patent advice in Europe and the arrival of Justin and the team will immediately propel us into a major patent player in this very important market.’

'Rocket scientist' IP work

Head of the UK TMT practice Andy Lucas added: ‘Our strategy in the UK is to 'put the Tech back into TMT', which means focusing on 'rocket scientist' hard IP work. Justin and the team joining us mean that we will be able to offer clients heavyweight patent filing capability, adding to the patent litigation experience of Campbell Forsyth who joined us last year.’