Travers partner boosts LG quest for Indian work
LG has hired Travers Smith partner Richard Marke in a bid to shore up its commerce and technology practice as the firm seeks to further develop its Indian client base.
Marke, who will be working on IP licensing, said the greater scope for international work at LG had attracted him to the new role, after 15 years at Travers Smith.
"The dynamic of the Indian business has turned full circle," said LG managing partner Hugh Maule. "Indian technology companies are looking to the UK for advice and there's a need for us to have people at the senior level that can deal with commercial contract, IP and IT work."
According to Maule, the firm has struggled to bring in individuals at partner level since a three-partner outsourcing team that was brought in from Tite & Lewis in 2004 left after two years.
Commerce and technology partner Michael Smyth, who is currently working part-time, will retire next month, bringing the number of partners in the team, which serves clients including the National Lottery, back down to five.
Marke worked with Gala Coral and Baring Private Equity Partners at Travers, but Maule acknowledged the challenges of poaching these clients, saying: "With a firm like Travers it's difficult to bring on clients. Clients of Travers are clients of Travers, not of Richard Marke."
Travers Smith senior partner Alasdair Douglas said he was "sad to lose a colleague and a friend", but added that there were "no immediate plans for a replacement".
