Winston & Strawn has launched a City intellectual property (IP) capacity with lateral partner hires from Taylor Wessing and DLA Piper.

The US firm has recruited Taylor Wessing's longstanding City partner Richard Price to spearhead the practice alongside DLA Piper partner Gareth Morgan.

Price originally joined Taylor Wessing predecessor firm Joynson-Hicks as an articled clerk before qualifying as a solicitor in 1970. Following a stint at Woodham Smith, he rejoined what was then Taylor Joynson Garrett as a partner in 1990. He also headed up the IP practice at Taylor Wessing between 1990 and 1993.

Morgan joined DLA in a lateral partner move from Taylor Wessing in spring last year.

Winston said that the launch of the City practice had come as part of a bid to mirror the firm's global IP practice.

London office head Thomas Benz (pictured) said: "We are very excited that [the partners] are coming on board. We have a very strong IP practice, especially in the US, and have made it a strategic initiative to match this in London. These hires could not be a better fit for us to complement our global practice."

The news comes as Taylor Wessing has added to its London office with the hire of Mathesons Ormsby Prentice construction partner David Quinlan.

Quinlan, who was based with Mathesons in Dublin, has relocated to London for the move. He has been based in Dublin since 2006 when he joined Mathesons as an associate, before making partner in 2008. Before that he also practised with Clifford Chance and White & Case in London.

Commenting on the hire, Taylor Wessing's UK head of construction and engineering Helen Garthwaite said: "We needed to expand the practice because we are seeing more work both in London and internationally. We are very excited that David is joining us based on his significant experience in infrastructure and major projects both in London and internationally.

Following the hire, Taylor Wessing has six partners in the group, which also has nine associates.