Freshfields asswociate quits for SJ Berwin in Brussels

Patricia Boyle has left Freshfields, where she was a senior associate, to join the Brussels office of SJ Berwin as the "senior EU lawyer".

As a specialist in the areas of telecomms, competition and intellectual property, she will be in charge of continuing the development of the existing Brussells-based telecomms practice.

"When the opportunity arose, I had no hesitation in joining," said Boyle. "I admired the team at SJ Berwin and have always considered it the stand-out practice in EU law.

"I was attracted by its excellent reputation and approach to European law. There is a synergy with my own practice, and the existing client base."

Stephen Kon, head of SJ Berwin's EU and competition department, said he was delighted to have Boyle.

"As a very fine competition lawyer with a specialism in telecomms, she is very much in demand. She is well integrated in Brussels and will enhance the office generally," he said

Kon was keen to stress that "we operate as one European practice, there is no differentiation between Brussels and London. We now have seven lawyers, including one partner, and two full-time researchers of EU law in Brussels."