U.K.-based law firm CMS has hired an intellectual property team in Hong Kong and relocated its U.K. co-chair of life sciences and healthcare to Singapore.

The three-lawyer team joins from Stephenson Harwood and is led by IP partner Jonathan Chu. He focuses on IP prosecution, transactions and disputes work and advises s clients in a variety of industries including life sciences, fashion, consumer goods, hospitality, entertainment, aviation, and energy. He joined Stephenson Harwood in 2016 from Hong Kong-based William W.L. Fan & Co. where he was a partner.

He arrives at CMS with associates Mengyi Chen and Candy Tong. All three are Hong Kong qualified and practice with the firm's Hong Kong associate firm Lau, Horton & Wise. CMS formed its Hong Kong association in 2018.

Meanwhile, technology and life science partner Sarah Hanson has relocated to Singapore from London where she co-led the U.K. practice. She advises clients on licensing, sales and distributor arrangements, research and development, manufacturing and supply, strategic alliances and joint ventures agreements.

With the addition of Chu's team, Nick Beckett, CMS' Beijing-based Asia-Pacific head of IP and global co-head of life sciences and healthcare, said the firm is setting up a whole new practice in Hong Kong, where it now has full IP capability at both a local and international level. "In this way, we are responding to the growing need from clients for IP expertise on the ground," he said.

In addition to Hong Kong, Singapore and Beijing, CMS also has an office in Shanghai.