Ropes & Gray has strengthened its new Shanghai office with the hire of intellectual property (IP) partner Geoffrey Lin from Hogan Lovells.

Lin, Hogan Lovells' sole IP partner in Shanghai, was made up in the firm's promotions round last year.

He has acted for clients across the pharma, biotech, healthcare, electronics and telecoms sectors, including Genentech, Becton, Dickinson and Company and Apple.

Shanghai managing partner Arthur Mok commented: "IP is typically the core component of deals in the life sciences industry in China. Geoffrey is one of a handful of IP lawyers in China with experience in structuring the transfer of those IP assets, and his knowledge adds an important aspect to the counsel Ropes & Gray provides on transactions."

The news comes two months after Ropes & Gray launched the Shanghai base, which marked the US firm's third presence in Asia. The office is headed by private equity partner Mok, who was joined by investment funds partner Geoffrey Chan along with five associates.

The office, the firm's tenth worldwide, focuses on private equity, life sciences and investment funds work.