US law firm Morgan Lewis & Bockius has hired Tim Powell, the co-founder of boutique IP firm Powell Gilbert, as a partner in its London office.

Powell joins Morgan Lewis after a career break according to Powell Gilbert, having resigned from its partnership in June 2023.

He joins Morgan Lewis at a time of European expansion, with his recruitment the latest in a string of IP hires as the US firm bolsters its UK and Europe bench. It hired leading IP litigator Hiroshi Sheraton in London from Baker McKenzie in September. In July, it recruited IP lawyers Alexander Klett and Christoph Mikyska from Reed Smith to its Munich office.  

The firm says that the arrival of the prominent IP lawyer will enhance the firm’s ability to service clients in a “competitive and changing European patent litigation landscape”.

Powell specialises in supporting clients, particularly biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, as regulatory entities and courts, specifically the Unified Patent Court, reshape patent enforcement across the EU.

Jami McKeon, the firm’s chair, said: “With significant changes anticipated in the European patent courts and patent assertion throughout the entire EU, our clients require careful, specialised guidance.” 

She added that his “stellar reputation and skilful coordination of complex, cross-border disputes” will enhance its global IP practice capabilities in cutting-edge sectors where IP protection is key to clients’ success.

Louis W Beardell Jr, leader of Morgan Lewis’s global IP practice, said: “Tim’s presence will immediately enhance the planned expansion of our European/UK team and contribute to the synergies with our already strong IP litigation practice in the United States.”

Nick Bolter, London office managing partner, added that at a time when biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and other life science technologies are at the centre of innovation, his representation of clients in some of the “most significant recent IP disputes in the United Kingdom and Europe makes him an invaluable addition to our team”.

Powell has been involved in many major patent cases, such as Edwards Lifesciences v Boston Scientific, which considered whether to stay an injunction as the infringing product gave potentially life-saving treatment, and Warner Lambert v Actavis, which looked at sufficiency and infringement in the context of second medical use patents. 

He has appeared as a solicitor advocate in the UK High Court, Court of Appeal, House of Lords and Court of Justice of the European Union.

Powell Gilbert said in a statement that he “contributed enormously” to the firm’s story as it has grown to become an IP firm of 15 partners. “He will always remain a friend, and we wish him all the best for his next chapter.”

On resigning as a partner last summer Powell went on extended leave from his role as senior counsel to fulfill a long-held dream to sail across the Atlantic. He retired from the firm at the end of August.

Before establishing Powell Gilbert in 2007, he spent nearly 20 years at specialist IP firm Bristows.