Norton Rose has hired high-profile intellectual property (IP) partner Huw Evans from Allen & Overy (A&O).

Evans, who joined A&O from Wragge & Co in 2009, focuses on patent litigation and cross-border disputes, and works across a range of sectors, including technology, telecoms and pharmaceuticals.

He joined the magic circle firm as part of a double hire with DLA Piper partner Neville Cordell.

Evans will join Norton Rose's three-partner, 15-associate team in London, which is led by EMEA IP head Mike Knapper.

"Huw joins us at an exciting time," said Knapper. "Norton Rose's IP practice is in growth mode and is set to expand to approaching 200 practitioners with the firm's combination in June 2013 with Fulbright & Jaworski, enabling us to offer clients expert IP advice on a truly global basis."

The hire comes after Norton Rose's appointment of its first corporate and white collar crime partner, Neil O'May, from Bindmans this July, as well as CMS Cameron McKenna's former head of commercial regulatory and disputes Liam O'Connell, who joined in September.

Global head of litigation and dispute resolution Deirdre Walker said the three hires were "indicative of the level of work" the practice was doing in the UK. Since January 2010, the firm claims its litigation and dispute resolution team has quadrupled in size, now boasting over 500 lawyers based in 26 locations.

Last week the firm announced its proposed merger with Fulbright, a deal which will create a 3,800-lawyer firm, with revenues of just under $2bn (£1.3bn), putting it just outside the global top five law firms.