Patent litigator Alex Morgan has joined Paul Hastings’ IP practice as a partner in London from boutique IP law firm EIP.

Morgan advises clients on high-value cross-border patent litigation, as well as IP licensing and commercial contract disputes across industries that include software, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, telecommunications and renewable energy.

He spent more than six years at EIP where he rose to partner; before that he was at Baker McKenzie for seven years. 

Jason Raeburn, a partner and head of Paul Hastings’ London IP and technology litigation practice, said: “Alex’s experience in cross-border patent litigation and strategy will strengthen our ability to deliver cutting-edge solutions to our clients worldwide.”

He added that his arrival underscores “our commitment to strengthening our IP and technology practice with top-tier talent in London, a critical hub for global IP disputes, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence and life sciences”.

In a statement, the firm said that London lawyer headcount is up 60% from January 2022 and is expected to reach more than 200 by year-end. Paul Hastings’ London platform annual revenue is expected to exceed $200m.

Commenting on his appointment, Morgan said: “I am excited to join Paul Hastings’ formidable intellectual property practice, which is known for advising many of the world’s leading technology and life sciences companies on their most critical and bet-the-company IP issues and disputes.”

Morgan’s practice covers a range of industries, including telecoms, electronics and pharmaceuticals, and has concerned patents for chemical compositions, electronic and mechanical devices, and various aspects of mobile phone systems, including standard essential patents, copyright infringement and trademark disputes.

During secondments to Google, McDonald’s Europe and HSBC he gained in-house experience with patent, trademark and commercial matters. 

He has acted in proceedings before the English High Court, the Court of Appeal, the Copyright Tribunal, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and in ICC arbitrations. 

He is a qualified solicitor-advocate and alongside his LLB, has a BSc in materials science and engineering from MIT.

Paul Hastings has been steadily growing its IP bench. In March it hired a highly respected team of patent litigators including Shamita Etienne-Cummings, Lisa Nguyen, Eric Lancaster, James Gagen and Grace Wang from legacy Allen & Overy, now A&O Shearman. They joined the New York, Palo Alto and Washington DC offices.

The former Allen & Overy team joined other notable IP additions to Paul Hastings’ practice, including Rudy Kim, who joined the Palo Alto practice from Morrison & Foerster last year. Other IP litigators who have joined recently include Jason Raeburn in London, who also sits part-time as a judge in the English High Court, and was at Baker McKenzie for 12 years.