Eversheds' appointments ups stakes in European IP league

EVERSHEDS has built up its intellectual property group with two appointments, including partner Isabel Davies who becomes group head.

Davies is joined by former Turner Kenneth Brown solicitor Lynda Farmer, who starts as head of the new IP unit in Birmingham.

The firm has identified IP as one of its key business areas and it now employs 40 specialists throughout the national practice.

Another assistant joins in July, and additional recruitment is expected.

Full IP units now exist in the firm's London, Nottingham, Birmingham, Leeds and Cardiff practices, but Davies says that additional work, particularly the non-contentious caseload, is handled throughout the firm.

"On the basis that we're probably one of the largest IP departments in the country and that we've got specialists in the area nationwide I am hoping that we will make ours one of the pre-eminent IP practices in Europe," says Davies.

"I'm hoping that it will continue to expand and grow and that we'll have major centres across the country in each of the Eversheds offices so that we can provide a full nationwide service."