Global law firm Taylor Wessing has announced the appointment of Niri Shan as the new Head of IP in the UK, Ireland, and Middle East. This newly created role underscores Taylor Wessing’s strategic commitment to expanding its Intellectual Property (IP) practice and reflects the firm’s ambition for continued growth in this area.
Taylor Wessing’s IP practice is one of the largest in Europe, comprising over 200 lawyers worldwide, including more than 100 in the UK. The team provides comprehensive services across IP litigation, portfolio management, advisory work, and IP acquisitions. Its specialists cover all aspects of IP rights including trade marks, copyright, designs, and patents. The firm is a leading player in cross-border IP litigation, recognised as the most active international firm at the Unified Patent Court (UPC), and manages an international trade marks portfolio with more than 75,000 live marks.
Niri joined the UK Board in 2013 as a Business Group Director for one of the firm’s three divisions, overseeing the IP, Disputes, and Regulatory teams. Under his leadership, the group achieved a 134% increase in revenue and brought 31 partners into the partnership through promotions and lateral hires. In the past three years alone, the group grew by 35%. His extensive board experience and strong track record in leading multidisciplinary teams make him well-placed to drive the firm’s strategic ambitions in his new role as Head of IP.
Commenting on his appointment, Niri Shan said: “The strength of our full-service IP team is unquestionable and we are proud to manage some of the most significant IP cases and portfolios globally. This new role was created to reflect the opportunities available in this market and its strategic importance to the firm. I look forward to extending our range of offerings and expanding our client base in the US, Asia, and Europe to achieve new levels of growth and success.”
Shane Gleghorn, Managing Partner at Taylor Wessing, added: “Taylor Wessing acts for some of the most innovative firms in the world, and intellectual property sits at the heart of many of those businesses. With this new role we are underscoring our commitment to remain at the forefront of IP law and deepen our focus in an area where we have delivered excellence for our clients for many years. Under Niri’s leadership, we are confident that our IP practice will flourish and set benchmarks within the industry.”