US Howrey Simon launches attack on European market

Washington DC firm Howrey Simon Arnold & White is kick-starting its first foray into Europe by targeting the UK and Belgium.

The 470-lawyer practice is set to open offices in both London and Brussels at the beginning of next year, from which the highly rated intellectual property (IP) firm will deliver services throughout Europe.

Dutch partner Koss Rasser will head the London office.

Rasser, formerly chief patent counsel at Proctor & Gamble, is an experienced IP lawyer with knowledge of both the US and European markets.

The chairman at Howrey Simon Ralph Savarese says: "We'll provide three core services to bring to Europe through our offices in London and Brussels."

The three practice areas will be IP, competition law and international arbitration.

Last year, Howrey Simon managing partner Robert Ruyak revealed its European expansion plans. He made it known that the firm would also be looking to move into Geneva (The Lawyer, 13 September 1999).

At the time Ruyak was unsure whether the firm would grow organically or through merger.

The firm was established at the beginning of the year when Washington firm Howrey & Simon merged with Houston firm Arnold White & Durkee to form the world's biggest IP practice, with a team of 250 specialist lawyers

The firm has offices in Houston and Austin in Texas, Menlo Park in California, Chicago and Los Angeles. It is expected to generate $130m (£90m) in revenue this year.