Allen & Overy (A&O) has hired Simmons & Simmons' IP head, Marc Doering, in London.

Doering will join as a partner in the firm's IP practice. He departs Simmons after a career at the firm spanning two decades.

His clients include German pharmaceutical giant Bayer, US consumer goods company Procter & Gamble and Dutch investment business Fontem Ventures.

His start date at A&O is yet to be confirmed.

A&O litigation head Tim House said: "Unlike others in our peer group, we have consistently prioritised IP as a strategic growth area for the litigation practice and Marc adds an additional dimension to our already strong offering."

IP partner Nicola Dagg added: "The UK courts are highly regarded on the global stage and we don't expect this to change. As such, they have always attracted high profile cases and big-ticket UK patent litigation is no exception."

Doering's appointment follows the hiring in June of fellow Simmons IP partner Marjan Noor, who joins on 1 November 2016.

The two additions from Simmons will see A&O's London IP partner count grow to seven.

Last month, the magic circle firm was hit by the departure of former banking head Stephen Kensell to Latham & Watkins. Kensell's departure came after campaigning unsuccessfully to become senior partner at the firm earlier this year.

However, last week the firm hired a five-lawyer finance team in New York, including three White & Case partners. Senior leveraged finance partner Scott Zemser is leading the new team at A&O's New York office. He will become co-head of A&O's global leveraged finance team.

Joining alongside him are fellow former White & Case finance partners Alan Rockwell and Judah Frogel.

Additionally, banking finance partner Rajani Gupta joins from Proskauer Rose and the team is completed with the arrival of Todd Koretzky, who joins A&O from Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy, where he was an associate. He joins A&O as a partner.