CMS hires Mark Shillito, enhances London IP team

CMS hires Mark Shillito, enhances London IP team

Mark Shillito's arrival signals firm's commitment to invest in Intellectual Property (IP), according to the firm

In its London office, CMS has appointed Mark Shillito, the former global head of intellectual property at Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), as a partner.

Shillito joins CMS after thirty years with HSF, where he led the firm's IP practice for nearly a decade and served as head of litigation and dispute resolution in the UK and the United States.

He is the latest in a series of IP hires by CMS, with four partners having been added in the past six months. His appointment provides the firm with managerial strength, in addition to his extensive experience in the industry.

Toby Sears, a patent litigation expert, joined CMS as a partner from Allen & Overy, where he was a senior associate. Ben Hitchens, a trademark and copyright partner, joined CMS from Locke Lord's London office in September.

With the addition of Shillito, the number of IP partners at CMS reaches 17, in addition to more than 130 lawyers, patent attorneys, trade mark attorneys, IP administrators, and paralegals.

CMS UK's head of IP, Sarah Wright, said: "Mark's appointment demonstrates our firm's commitment to invest in the growth of our intellectual property department and in particular in patent litigation. We are pleased that he has chosen to join us."

Shillito expressed his pleasure at joining a firm with such a talented and dynamic team, citing its sectoral focus and 'cradle-to-grave' IP service, which he called "a powerful combination".

One of the things that differentiate Shillito is his versatility across a broad array of IP disputes, which span all core IP rights, as well as his ability to assess the post-Brexit implications of those disputes for UK clients.

In addition, he advises on crisis management and IP-driven transactions, as well as having expertise in the TMT, FMCG and life sciences sectors, which will experience significant growth following the pandemic.

Hillito retired from the partnership of HSF in March 2021, having stepped down as global head of IP in June 2020. He was succeeded by the London-based Sophie Rich and the Australian Rebekah Gay.

The role of HSF's UK/US head of disputes was taken over by banking litigator Damian Byrne Hill in October 2018. Damian also led the IP group at HSF during his tenure in that role.

He oversaw the opening of the firm's disputes-focused New York office in 2012 and the expansion of the firm's IP division in Europe. As a candidate for HSF's senior partner position in 2018, he has faced incumbent James Palmer.

The firm issued a statement in which it thanked Mark for his contributions to its success over many years. We wish Mark well for his future endeavours."