Herbert Smith Freehills has hired Ina vom Feld as its first intellectual property partner in Germany, reflecting Europe's rank as the second-largest pharmaceuticals market globally, after the United States.

Vom Feld was previously a partner at Simmons & Simmons in Düsseldorf, where she worked in the firm's dispute resolution practice. She will join Herbert Smith Freehills in May along with Simmons & Simmons associate Behyad Hozuri.

Vom Feld is an expert in contentious and non-contentious IP, with a strong focus on patent and regulatory law in the life sciences sector. She has advised pharma companies and has extensive experience in TMT, electronics (including e-cigarettes), engineering and chemistry patent disputes, the firm said.

Vom Feld had been with Simmons & Simmons since 2013. Before that, she spent more than 12 years with Bird & Bird, according to her LinkedIn page. She was also selected by the U.S. Federal Circuit Bar Association as a global fellow.

A spokesperson for Simmons & Simmons declined to comment on the move.

The hire further strengthens Herbert Smith Freehill's pharma patent litigation capability and allows the firm to do more general patent litigation in Germany, Mark Shillito, global head of Herbert Smith Freehills' IP practice, said in a statement.

Germany continues to be the country with the most patent litigation proceedings in Europe and also has a strong and growing biotech and pharmaceutical industry.

Nico Abel, managing partner of the firm's German offices, said vom Feld will help Herbert Smith Freehills pursue its expansion in Germany and will also add to its European pharma patent litigation practice.

Herbert Smith Freehills has been expanding in Europe. In 2018, it strengthened its European IP offering with the recruitment of partner Laura Orlando and opened an office in Milan. Also that year it hired partner Frédéric Chevallier in Paris.