In a notable development, law firm Paul Hastings has recruited a technology-focused intellectual property (IP) litigation team consisting of six partners from Allen & Overy. This hiring complements a series of group hires instigated earlier this year by Paul Hastings.
The newly engaged partners, who will operate out of Palo Alto and Washington, DC, while also dividing their time in New York, specialize in patent litigation. They have previously represented high-profile clients such as Google, Toshiba, Meta Platforms, Realtek Semiconductor, and Marvell Semiconductor, according to a statement from Paul Hastings.
The team comprises Shamita Etienne-Cummings, Lisa Nguyen, Eric Lancaster, James Gagen, and Grace Wang. The name of the sixth partner is yet to be disclosed. The move is part of Paul Hastings’ aggressive hiring strategy, following consecutive robust financial performances which saw the firm’s revenue surge by nearly 9% last year to $1.8 billion.
Etienne-Cummings, in an interview, expressed her excitement at joining Paul Hastings, lauding the firm’s growth mindset and its ambition towards achieving its goals.
The new hires come close on the heels of Paul Hastings’ addition of an eight-partner finance team from Vinson & Elkins in Texas, as reported by Bloomberg Law last week. Furthermore, last month, the firm added a three-partner finance group in Houston from Akin Gump.
Meanwhile, prior to these departures, Allen & Overy is anticipated to close its merger with New York-based law firm Shearman & Sterling on May 1. It’s worth noting that law firm mergers often lead to some partner transitions.
Paul Hastings’ new partners have previously worked at White & Case before moving to Allen & Overy in 2021. Etienne-Cummings, a prominent trial lawyer who served on Allen & Overy’s global board, draws from her expansive 13-year practice at White & Case.
The group has handled patent litigation at IP-specialist venues and represented clients across diverse sectors like AI, VR, ecommerce, software and hardware systems, semiconductors, telecommunications, mobile devices, consumer electronics, and payment systems. They also hold expertise in digital health technologies.
With these new additions, the firm aims to further strengthen its IP litigation practice in Silicon Valley and Washington, increasing its market share at the top of the market, expressed Frank Lopez, the firm chair.
The aggressive hiring under firm chair Frank Lopez, who assumed the position in late 2022, along with managing partner Sherrese Smith, has seen Paul Hastings’ revenue rise by roughly 15% from 2021.