Garretts' recruits boost IT division

CITY FIRM Garrett & Co has poached two City partners in a bid to revamp its IT and intellectual property (IP) division.

The new recruits, partners Richard Kemp and Mark Turner, join from Hammond Suddard and Denton Hall.

Garrett's announcement comes three months after Marcus O'Leary, founder of its Reading IP section, left to set up his own practice in the town.

Julia Chain, Garretts managing partner, says she expects the department to expand quickly, with Kemp and Turner looking for new staff.

She says the other sections are strong, but the new department marks a significant development for the firm.

Chain adds: "This move emphasises our commitment to becoming one of the leading business law practices in the UK, and we can now offer a complete range of commercial and intellectual property services to clients."

Kemp is an IT specialist and was the partner in charge of IT at Hammond Suddards' London office.

Turner was a partner and head of the technology group at Denton Hall.

Kemp says his new job offers a "unique opportunity". Turner says: "The opportunity at Garrett & Co is an outstanding one. I have been impressed with the plans for the firm and the depth of resources they have to carry them through."