Allen & Overy (A&O) has secured a key European litigation hire with the addition of Field Fisher Waterhouse Germany managing partner Joachim Feldges, less than two years after he joined the firm from Howrey.

Feldges, who oversees Field Fisher's Germany practice across Munich, Duesseldorf and Hamburg, joined the firm in January 2011 from Howrey, leading a four-partner team that transferred Howrey's Munich and Duesseldorf bases in their entirety to Field Fisher.

He is top-rated by Chambers for patent litigation in Germany, with a particular focus on pharma and biotechnology, and was also previously managing partner of Clifford Chance's Munich arm until 2003. His start date at A&O is as yet unconfirmed.

A&O senior partner Neil Weiand commented: "Joachim is one of the most highly regarded and successful patent litigators in Germany. He will develop a market leading German patent litigation practice at A&O that complements the existing range of services we offer to clients.

"Joachim's practice, which has particular focus in the life sciences sector, will benefit from synergies with our existing corporate client base. Additionally, as we see patent trademark work becoming both increasingly complex and important, we feel that Joachim's experience will help develop a market-leading practice in Germany, which has a patent-strong domestic market."

Feldges' exit from Howrey came as part of an attempted restructuring ahead of the firm's collapse in March last year. He has represented clients in infringement and validity cases before all major patent courts, the Federal Supreme Court and the Federal Patent Court and in opposition proceedings before the European Patent Office, while he has also advised on European, CIS and US technology transfer agreements.

A&O global intellectual property (IP) chief Geert Glas added: "Intellectual property is featuring more highly than ever before on boardroom agendas, reflecting an increase in high value international patent battles. Munich is one of the core centres for patent work in Europe."

Feldges will work alongside Duesseldorf IP partner Jens Matthes, who joined from Linklaters in June this year. Matthes, who led Linklaters' German IP practice from 2008 until his departure, has taken the same role at A&O.

News of Feldges' exit from Field Fisher comes a day after the firm's former CIS head Alex Woodfield began work at SJ Berwin's City corporate practice.