High-profile Field Fisher Waterhouse intellectual property and technology head Mark Abell has handed in his notice and is understood to be joining Bird & Bird.

Abell was suspended from Field Fisher's partnership earlier today (1 February) following his announcement that he was resigning from Field Fisher to join another firm. It is not yet known when Abell will join Bird & Bird.

Abell, who has been at Field Fisher since 1984, is top rated for UK franchising work by Chambers and Partners. While at Field Fisher, key work has included acting for toy retailer Hamleys on its international expansion, as well as the development and brand expansion of Management Recruiters International, one of the world's largest search and recruitment organisations.

Bird & Bird posted profit per equity partner (PEP) of £515,000 in 2011-12, around 20% higher than Field Fisher's PEP of £410,000. The firm has made a spate of recent recruits, including former NYSE Euronext head of UK legal Martin Sandler, Jones Day litigator Michael Brown and SNR Denton aviation partner Brett Hailey.

Abell notably made headlines in 2008 when he was among a number of foreign citizens caught up in the terrorist crisis in Mumbai. In the same year he was also singled out in a grievance claim brought by former head of trademark and brand protection John Olsen, which accused the then European head of supposedly heavy-handed management.

Olsen later left with a 15-strong team to legacy Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge.

In a statement, Field Fisher said: "We confirm that Mark Abell has resigned from the partnership of Field Fisher Waterhouse to join another firm. To protect the interests of the firm, the supervisory board has suspended Mark from the partnership."