Howrey splits and seeks global merger
A new pan-European IP firm has emerged out of Howrey just as the US firm enters into merger talks with another US-based firm, Winston & Strawn.
Hoyng Monegier began operations at the start of January having established offices in Amsterdam, Brussels, Madrid and Paris, drawing 19 partners and 30 associates out of the US firm.
In Spain, Howrey operates as Howrey Martínez Lage, from which partners Laura Alonso and Luis Fernández-Novoa have exited to lead Hoyng Monegier’s Spanish practice.
The Madrid office will initially count an additional two lawyers as well as support staff, with the firm’s focus dedicated to contentious IP, encompassing patents, trademarks, design and copyright.
The new firm’s birth comes as Howrey has announced merger talks with Chicago-based Winston & Strawn, having suffered a number of losses across its European network in recent months. Howrey currently counts 10 offices across the US and six in Europe.
Winston has 900 lawyers, with seven offices across the US, three in China and four across Europe.
