Mills & Reeve has welcomed intellectual property specialist Mark Pearce to its Leeds office.
Pearce, an ex-scientist, joins from Bond Dickinson as a partner. He will be responsible for growing the firm’s national practice with Alasdair Poore, head of IP, and Claire O’Brien, head of IP litigation. He will also focus on an intellectual property practice in Leeds and across the North alongside Paul Johnson and assist principal associate Paul Knight in the firm’s growing technology sector work across Manchester, Leeds and the North of England.
Pearce (pictured) began his career as a physicist before training as a solicitor with Bristows, the specialist IP firm. He has been recognised by the legal directories as the leading individual in IP law in the North East for well over a decade. He advises on all aspects of IP law and his client portfolio includes technology-based university spin-outs.
Alasdair Poore, head of IP, said: “Mark gives us a great opportunity to grow our national intellectual property practice by building a team in Leeds. His background and expertise makes him a perfect fit for Mills & Reeve.”
Philip Way, head of the Leeds office, added: “The expansion of our corporate and commercial offering is gathering pace as more well-respected and skilled lawyers, who are regarded as leaders in their respected fields, join our Leeds team.”
Mills & Reeve’s Leeds office has significantly expanded its commercial offering recently with the launch of its corporate team headed by former Irwin Mitchell partner Paul Johnson, plus partner Simon Pedley leading its move into commercial disputes. It has also boosted the private client offering with the arrival of partner Andrew Playle from Bond Dickinson.
