Squire Patton Boggs has hired trademark expert Candice Kwok from Marks & Clerk in Singapore to bolster its global intellectual property and technology practice.

Kwok joins as a partner and is relocating to the firm’s Palo Alto office. She brings with her more than two decades of experience, advising clients on trademark portfolio strategy and commencing and defending trademarks in opposition, revocation or invalidation proceedings. Her practice also focuses on trademark clearance and prosecuting trademark applications across a range of industries that span fintech and fashion to automakers. Kwok has represented some of the world’s biggest brands including Volkswagen and Dyson.

David Elkins, Squire’s global intellectual property and technology practice group leader, said: “Candice brings vast experience managing international trademark portfolios, particularly around and across the Pacific Rim. I’ve known Candice for quite some time and worked directly with her on multinational trademark litigation. She’s naturally collaborative and with an international perspective that fits perfectly with our global team.”

Kwok spent more than 18 years at IP specialists Marks & Clerk in Singapore, having previously worked at legacy firm Coudert Brothers and local firms KhattarWong and Kelvin Chia Partnership. She was admitted to the Supreme Court of Singapore in 2000 and has been licensed to practice in California since 2010. She was previously chair of an International Trademark Association (INTA) subcommittee and is currently a member of INTA’s non-traditional trademarks committee.

Kwok said: “Squire’s extensive international practice and culture encourages collaboration and were big draws that will allow me to explore new business opportunities with my colleagues.”

Other firms have been strengthening their US IP practices in recent months. In July, McDermott Will & Emery hired an eight partner-strong IP team from Baker Botts to launch in Austin. The new offices is being headed by Baker Botts’ former Austin IP department head Kevin Meek.

Also in July, a trio of Rimon PC partners quit the firm to launch their own IP boutique KXT Law in Silicon Valley. They included Karineh Khachatourian, David Xue and Amir Tabarrok, alongside three support staff.

Meantime, back in May, Fox Rothschild opened in Boston with the arrival of a group of IP lawyers from Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo.