More woe for McGrigors as Pinsents poaches four

Pinsent Masons has rocked McGrigors’ London office with the hire of national IP/IT head Catrin Turner and her team of three associates.

Associates Jennifer Holroyd, Leonie Power and Tom Mannion are set to move with Turner to Pinsents, with Holroyd joining as a partner.

Pinsents IP head Kim Walker said a cross-selling drive at the firm had led to more work for the IP team.

“We have a thriving roster of corporate clients at the firm that are increasingly looking for IP advice,” said Walker.

The IP practice group at Pinsents is likely to continue growing, with the firm now focusing on boosting its life sciences capability.

Walker said: “We’re still looking for people; we’ve certainly got the work and the clients, it’s just a case of finding the people with the right scientific background.”

McGrigors has had a rough ride in London this month. The office has lost banking and finance partner Stuart Brinkworth to SJ Berwin and barrister Jonathan Fisher QC to 23 Essex Street, as well as Turner and her team, within the space of three weeks.

Turner specialises in strategic advice on branding, as well as how to minimise tax within an IP portfolio. She has advised clients such as Royal Mail and Tottenham Hotspur FC.

The IP group at Pinsents has advised clients including Royal Bank of Scotland, Whitbread and Smith & Nephew.