Quinn Emanuel taps A&O for German IP launch

23 February 2010 | By Matt Byrne

The firm has hired patent litigation partner Marcus Grosch to launch in Mannheim. Grosch joined A&O in 2007 from his own firm, building the team to include four associates. All four are also joining Quinn Emanuel.

According to a report on German legal publication Juve, Grosch said his decision to leave A&O was based on being offered the chance to build a new transatlantic practice in IP litigation. It was “a unique opportunity”, Grosch added.

IP litigation is a major part of Quinn Emanuel’s practice in the US, but until now it has had no capability in Europe or the UK.

Earlier this month the US firm unveiled its 2009 financial results, posting a 5 per cent fall in revenue, from $441.8m to $420m, and a 6 per cent drop in average profit per equity partner, from $3.3m to $3.1m (8 February 2010).

At the time founding partner John Quinn highlighted the firm’s ambition to continue growing its London office over the course of the current year.

“We know we’re not big enough in London to achieve what we want, but we won’t be looking to grow for growth’s sake,” stressed Quinn at the time.

Grosch’s departure is a further blow to A&O’s German business, which last year lost heavyweight corporate partner Rolf Koerfer to Linklaters spin-off Oppenhoff & Partner (21 September 2009).