DLA Piper appoints Ruth Hoy as London Office Managing Partner

DLA Piper has appointed Ruth Hoy as the office managing partner for London, succeeding Tom Heylen who takes on a new role as UK Client and Sectors Partner following a successful six year term heading up London.

Ruth is a successful intellectual property partner specialising in brand management issues, including trade mark and copyright enforcement and licensing disputes, acting for household names in media, sport, fashion and retail, aviation and electronics, and will continue her practice alongside leading the London office.

Ruth joined DLA Piper in 2005 and has been a partner since 2008. She has led the DLA Piper UK intellectual property practice since 2012, and was appointed as the firm’s global co-chair of the Fashion and Retail sub-sector in 2019. She is listed as a leading individual for retail in the Legal 500 and has led the firm’s pro bono relationship with the British Fashion Council since 2009, supporting upcoming young fashion designers.

Ruth commented: “Our London office is such a critical part of the firm and its success is in no small part down to the people who make up our exceptional team. I will give my best to ensure that every single person working in the London office understands their importance to DLA Piper and feels that this is a place where they belong, and where they can, and are inspired to, thrive and grow. I look forward to continuing to build on the firm’s reputation in the City and beyond and further deepening our relationships with our clients and the communities we serve.”

UK managing partner Liam Cowell added: “Ruth is an exemplary leader who brings with her a wealth of experience in developing strong, collaborative teams that strive to deliver the very best for their clients and for each other. I have no doubt that she will continue Tom’s excellent work in evolving our London offering, and would like to thank Tom for his leadership and many contributions over the past five years, not least steering the team into its new location at 160 Aldersgate and through the challenges of the pandemic.”

In his new role as UK Clients and Sectors Partner, Tom Heylen will work closely with Stéphane Lemarchand, Managing Director, Clients and Sectors to deliver DLA Piper’s client and sector strategy within the UK.