Howrey vice-chair quits as Kilpatrick swoops for Taipei outpost

Three Howrey partners have left to join US rivals Dewey & LeBoeuf, including vice-chairman Henry Bunsow, and the firm’s Taipei office has been acquired by US firm Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton.

Bunsow joins Dewey as co-chair of the firm’s IP litigation practice, and will be joined by fellow Howrey IP partners Denise De Mory and Brian Smith. All three will be based in the firm’s San Francisco office. Dechert’s Craig Allison has also rejoined Dewey as a partner and will be based in its Silicon Valley office.

Commenting on the arrivals, Dewey chairman Steven Davis said: “IP litigators are in high demand, and there are very few in the country with the stellar reputation, experience and track record of this group.”

Bunsow added: “The opportunity to work alongside a preeminent group of transactional lawyers with extensive relationships across the technology sector offers a unique opportunity.”

Dewey has also hired James Carter as a partner in its international arbitration and cross-border dispute resolution practice group from Sullivan & Cromwell, and Baker & McKenzie partners Karl Hopkins and Steven Otillar in the oil and gas group.

The news of Howrey partner departures comes a week after managing partner Robert Ruyak told The Lawyer that the firm’s restructure had left it on an even keel (10 January).

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton - the firm formed by a merger between Kilpatrick Stockton and IP boutique Townsend & Townsend & Crew in November (4 November 2010) - yesterday announced its acquisition of Howrey’s four-lawyer Taipei office. 

Glenn Rhodes has been appointed managing partner of the office. Rhodes had led Howrey’s Taipei office since it opened in 2006.

Rhodes said: “It was evident from my initial conversation with Kilpatrick Townsend leadership that the firm has a strong commitment to Asia and understands what it takes to succeed in the region.”