Hogan & Hartson has picked up the latest partner to leave Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's Paris arm, taking the magic circle firm's local head of intellectual property (IP), Xavier Buffet Delmas.

Buffet Delmas, who helped set up Freshfields' local IP capability, joins Hogan as a partner in its Paris office. He specialises in IP litigation, in particular patent litigation, as well as IT and internet-related matters. He joined Freshfields in 1994 from Baker & McKenzie.

Buffet Delmas becomes the second senior hire Hogan has made from Freshfields' Paris operation in recent times, with the US firm having appointed senior corporate partner Isabelle MacElhone in April.