Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has launched an intellectual property (IP) practice in the US with the relocation of City counsel Lindsey Canning.

Canning joined the magic circle firm's New York office this month after eleven years in Freshfields' London HQ.

She specialises in IP and technology matters in the context of M&A transactions and initial public offerings, across a variety of industry sectors. Her relocation has no fixed term.

Freshfields US managing partner Julian Pritchard said: "We are looking at growth on many fronts in the US at the moment, and identified a need for a transactional lawyer with expertise in detailed business separation and integration as well as outsourcing. This is a small example of a wider strategy, which is to build strategically aligned businesses.

"I do not believe the kind of work that Lindsey focuses on has traditionally been a speciality of Wall Street firms, but it is an area of increasing importance. This move ticks the strategic boxes, in that it builds on our existing ability to do complex mandates in this area in the US, Europe and Asia, and we are building the business in response to client demand."

Freshfields currently has 120 lawyers in the US – including 30 partners – spread across two offices in New York and Washington DC.

The news follows the firm's announcement last month that it will hand out spring bonuses to its US associates for the first time this year.