Fieldfisher intellectual property partner Rebecca Swindells has left the firm for Jones Day in London, which has been hit by multiple partner exits since the start of the year.
In her new role, Swindells will lead the firm’s non-patents IP litigation practice, working alongside patents litigation head Alastair McCulloch.
She joins after an eight-year career at Fieldfisher, having started out as a senior associate in 2008 and being made up to partner a year later.
Swindells was also a managing associate at Addleshaw Goddard prior to starting at Fieldfisher, after training and qualifying at legacy Theodore Goddard.
“Jones Day has a strong patents practice but the firm needed someone to help drive the non-patents side of things,” Swindells told The Lawyer. “I wanted to spread my wings and take more of a managerial role within a global firm.”
Throughout her career, Swindells has acted for a number of large media companies, including Viacom and Time Inc, on issues concerning copyright, trademarks and design rights. Her move comes amid an increasing number of European Union rules affecting IP litigation, including the new Unitary Patent Court system, as well as copyright and trademark reforms.
The last lateral partner hire made by Jones Day’s London office was Latham & Watkins project finance partner Nick Collins back in June.
However, the firm has also seen a number of partner exits since the start of the year. Construction head Hamish Lal and employment head Jules Quinn left for Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and King & Spalding respectively, while the banking and finance team has lost partners Sebastian Orton, Dominic O’Brien and Weyinmi Popo.