David Knight bolsters Brown Rudnick's UK and European intellectual property practice

David Knight bolsters Brown Rudnick's UK and European intellectual property practice

Few days prior to David Knight's hire, Brown Rudnick's ex-UK/Europe IP head left with their staff to start Morrison Foerster's UK contentious IP business.

Brown Rudnick, a US law firm, has hired a partner from Fieldfisher in London to manage its UK and European intellectual property practise.

David Knight has joined the firm just days after it was revealed that Steven James, Brown Rudnick's previous head partner for UK and European IP, had resigned with three colleagues to create the UK contentious IP practise at US rival Morrison Foerster.

Knight's practise encompasses the entire spectrum of intellectual property rights, with a special emphasis on patents. He gives businesses advice on corporate issues, such as structuring, transactions, and licencing, as well as on patent litigation, both offensively and defensively.

Brown Rudnick's CEO and chairman Vince Guglielmotti stated, "Technology and life sciences are two of Brown Rudnick's five main pillars, and David's expertise in these fields will improve our capacity to offer first-rate client service across these business sectors. His outstanding track record in patent litigation in the US, the UK, and Europe greatly enhances our litigation strategies on both sides of the Atlantic."

Knight's clients involve companies across a variety of tech and life science sectors, such as medical devices and scientific instrumentation, renewable energy and cleantech, aerospace, the block chain, oil and gas, printing, video games, consumer goods, and construction. He worked as an engineer for several years before joining Fieldfisher as a partner in 2004.

According to the firm, Knight has joined as Brown Rudnick's sole committed IP partner in London, yet will collaborate closely with the US IP team to assist clients on that side of the Atlantic and the larger corporate team.

Knight cited Brown Rudnick's expertise in the energy transition, life sciences, and technology as three areas of strength.

Knight stated that there is no question that London will continue to be a significant centre for IP disputes, and once the Unified Patent Court opens its doors next year, one of our primary areas of focus will be guiding our clients on both sides of the Atlantic on their IP litigation strategy.