Pinsent Masons has expanded its IP practice in London by securing a nine-strong team from Deloitte Legal that includes three IP partners, a legal director and a number of associates.

IP partners and brand specialists Rachael Barber and Jeremy Harris joined on 2 June along with legal director Richard Reeve-Young. The head of IP at Deloitte Legal, Paul Garland, will follow on 9 June. 

They specialise in online brand protection strategies, enforcement and the application of generative AI.

Also joining from Deloitte Legal is Robert Vile, who was associate director of IP disputes at Deloitte and associates Jessica A Sleath, Maria-Elena Cacace, Catalina Urueña and paralegal Martina Torresani. 

Commenting on the new posts, Pinsent Masons’ co-head of IP Tom Nener said the new arrivals “represent a significant expansion of our IP practice, particularly in the brand protection and technology space. With technological development disrupting traditional IP strategies, these hires position us to execute increasingly complex global work on behalf of high-profile brands and leading technology clients”.

Garland has more than 20 years’ experience in advising technology clients on strategic IP management, including the protection and enforcement of the full range of IP rights and other digital assets. 

He joins the firm after more than four years at Deloitte Legal where he served as global head of IP and technology. Before that he spent nearly 14 years at Kemp Little, where he founded and was head of its technology disputes practice.

Retail and luxury brand specialist Barber also spent more than four years at Deloitte Legal, having previously spent three years as a partner at Kemp Little. She focuses on trademark, copyright and design enforcement together with strategic guidance regarding the administration of her clients’ IP portfolios. She has advised leading luxury brands and retailers including brands such as Jimmy Choo and IKEA. She is an expert in deploying AI to enhance online brand protection strategies.

Harris brings a broad IP practice focusing on disputes, transactions and advisory work across all IP rights. He was also at Deloitte Legal for more than four years and before that spent 13 years at Kemp Little. He started his career as an associate at Berwin Leighton Paisner.

He advises on software, data and emerging technology IP issues. On the litigation front, he has acted for clients on matters ranging from copyright to database rights and breach of contract issues heard before the England and Wales High Court. On the transactional side, he is a specialist in IP licensing transactions and joint ventures.

Reeve-Young was a director in the IP team of Deloitte Legal, where he spent more than seven years, three of them as director. His practice focuses on advising clients on IP ownership, enforcement and exploitation strategies. He adopts traditional litigation and tech-enabled solutions for enforcement purposes and advises clients on implementing generative AI in their businesses. He began his career as a trainee at Penningtons Manches.

Commenting on his new appointment, Garland said: “Joining Pinsent Masons is the natural fit for the team as we look to further build out our enforcement and strategic IP management work with technology and brand-led businesses.”

He added that with generative AI accelerating the challenges to intellectual and creative assets, “our work on the IP risk management and enforcement front has never been more important to preserving brands’ integrity online”.

Co-head of IP at Pinsent Masons, Judith Krens, noted that the team’s emphasis on enforcement means they are well placed to leverage the use of Pinsent Masons’ software platform Alteria, which is used to manage trademarks, monitor online infringements and online reputation. 

Barber added: “Working alongside Pinsent Masons’ best-in-class global IP team, and with its pioneering Alteria solutions, will enhance our ability to help our general counsel clients to automate and streamline how their IP assets are protected.”

The UK-headquartered firm promoted 24 to partner in April, the majority coming from the energy and/or infrastructure and real estate departments, with two IP lawyers made partner – Arjan Reijns from the Netherlands and Virginia De Freitas in Paris.