Lovells Shanghai chief fills vacancy on partnership council

Lovells has elected Shanghai managing partner Doug Clark to its partnership council following the promotion of Marc Gottridge to the international executive.

Gottridge took up the post of US regional managing partner in August, moving from the council to the executive at the same time.

Both established in 2002, the international executive deals with business development, while the partnership council is more internally focused and looks at issues such as partnership remuneration and lateral hires.

Clark heads the firm's IP property practice in mainland China and, in addition to heading the Shanghai office, is a partner in Hong Kong.

Having joined the Hong Kong office in 1993, Clark moved to Shanghai in 2000 to set up the Chinese IP practice.

His practice focuses on patent cases, particularly those relating to pharmaceutical and telecommunications patents. He has also coordinated numerous cross-border litigation cases covering North East Asia.

His non-contentious experience includes advising on technology transfer and conducting patent and other IP audits and freedom to operate analyses.