Milbank nabs Clifford Chance IP litigator

Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy’s London office is branching out into intellectual property litigation after taking on a highly-rated Clifford Chance (CC) partner.

David Perkins, 59, who retired from Clifford Chance on 30 April, is the second magic circle lateral Milbank Tweed has scooped this year.

The firm scored a coup by taking on Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer corporate star Tim Emmerson in March. Perkins, who became a partner at CC in 1975, was the head of intellectual property at the firm until his retirement.

Perkins, widely praised for his expertise in patent and trademark work, will add to the firm’s IP capability throughout Europe, the US and the Far East.

A spokesperson at CC said: "David has been one of the main leaders of the IP practice at Clifford Chance and, as a longstanding partner, has made a significant contribution to the firm. We wish him every success in his new role at Milbank Tweed."