Mr Justice Laddie set to join Willoughbys

Sir Hugh Laddie, the senior judge of the Patents Court, will be joining Willoughby & Partners as a consultant on his retirement from the High Court bench in the Autumn.

Mr Justice Laddie will head the firm’s embryonic IP arbitration and mediation practice and support its growing patent practice, as well as playing a more general role in its international IP business.

Tony Willoughby, senior partner at Willoughby & Partners/Rouse Legal said: "Sir Hugh is the first High Court judge to leave the Bench to join a law firm. We are thrilled that he has chosen to join us. His energy and expertise will be a major asset to us in the continued development of our business – particularly in the areas of patents, which we have been developing over the last few years, and ADR."