Mishcon de Reya has announced that Ashley Winton and Helen Conlan will be joining the Firm as Partners in the newly formed Innovation department.
The new Innovation department brings together some of Mishcon de Reya's fastest growing and most innovative practices for the first time. The new team features 20 Partners and Legal Directors and 27 Managing Associates and Associates.
It comprises three divisions: IP and Competition; Commercial Contracts, Data, Tech and Sport; and Betting and Gaming – practices that had previously been in Corporate and Dispute Resolution at the Firm.
Helen Conlan joins the firm on Monday 12 April as a Partner in the IP and Competition Division. Helen is a patent litigator, having previously been a Partner in the intellectual property litigation practice at Bird & Bird LLP.
She brings with her 17 years’ of IP litigation experience and has particular expertise in multi-jurisdictional patent litigation and in disputes relating to trade secrets.
Helen has represented clients at all levels of patent proceedings in the UK, in opposition proceedings before the European Patent Office, in arbitration and in mediation. Her clients are drawn from across the technology, media and telecoms industries.
Helen is also an Officer of the IP and Entertainment Law Committee of the IBA, with responsibility for the award of IBA Scholarships. She speaks on IP matters and has taught on the subject, most recently at the IBA Annual Conference in November 2020.
Ashley joins as FinTech and privacy Partner. As a leading data and FinTech lawyer, Ashley has over 25 years' experience advising on matters relating to financial regulation, encryption and export control, data protection, privacy and cyber security.
He is highly regarded for his expertise in issues relating to the impact of privacy and information security law on cloud services, financial technology, telecommunications and international data transfers.
Ashley has a particular focus on the intersection of competing laws, which can occur in the context of lawful interception of data, corporate investigations, government investigations or international litigation.
He is a Fellow of the Ponemon Institute, a leading research centre dedicated to privacy, data protection and information security policy. He is also the Chairman of the Data Protection Forum, the largest independent data protection group in the UK.
Managing Partner James Libson said: "The pace of change in our industry and for our clients has been and continues to accelerate. New sectors emerge while others rapidly evolve – arguably none more so than those sectors served by the expertise across our Innovation team. From the all-pervading nature of data and growing technology regulation to the changing world of online and offline sport and the increasing centrality of IP, all of the areas we have brought together understand the specific and complicated challenges their clients face. Creating this commonality will allow for greater collaboration and better results for clients."
Jeremy Hertzog, Chair of Innovation at Mishcon de Reya added: “I'm proud to be a part of this diverse and talented group of lawyers and professionals who are working with innovative clients and their businesses every day. Working together to build this centre of excellence will have positive benefits not only for us in terms of growing, retaining and attracting talent, but for our clients too who will reap the benefits of greater collaboration across these sectors.
We are excited to welcome Helen and Ashley. They both bring valuable expertise to the new department and are recognised for their extensive legal and regulatory knowledge, as well as ability to offer insightful strategic advice.”
Helen said: “I am delighted to be joining Mishcon de Reya and the newly formed Innovation department. It’s a pleasure to be joining a team with a shared vision, drive and ambition that matches my own energy and commitment to the delivery of excellence in IP legal services. I am looking forward to building a new leading IP litigation practice for the London market."
Ashley said: "Mishcon de Reya's focus on innovation – both in helping clients and in service delivery is a standout attraction for me. I am delighted to be joining Mishcon de Reya: there is excellence in every direction for my Data and FinTech practice. I am looking forward, with my new colleagues, to harness the power of innovation in legal services to solve problems, mitigate risk and create value.”