Watson Farley & Williams has added a partner to its commercial practice in Bangkok with the hire of Ashurst intellectual property (IP) and commercial lawyer Marcus Nothhelfer.

Nothhelfer, who specialises in copyright and media issues, is joining Watson Farley's office in the Thai capital in an effort to tap the German business community in Asia.

He was previously based in Ashurst's Munich office, where he was head of the German IP/commercial practice group, focusing on licensing, trademarks and competition work, as well as more general media, copyright and industrial property law.

In his new role, he will also aim to develop links with Asian investors who are interested in opportunities in Europe.

Watson Farley Bangkok head said: "The addition of Marcus to our Bangkok office will enhance our already very strong reputation in this vibrant market and add a wholly new dimension to our offering to the international business community in Thailand."

Watson Farley currently has three Asian offices in Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong. The Singapore base was the first to open in 1998, through a joint venture with Asia Practice.

At the end of last year the firm announced plans to launch a litigation practice in Hong Kong with the hire of dispute resolution partner Richard Wilmot from Holman Fenwick Willan.

Around the same time the firm also confirmed it was bolstering its German practice with the opening of an office in Frankfurt, to accompany bases in Hamburg and Munich, hiring a regulatory team from Salans led by partner Ivana Mikesic to oversee the operation.