Global law firm Baker McKenzie has moved to deepen its bench in intellectual property litigation, with the appointment of a partner and two senior associates from a BigLaw rival.
Dean Gerakiteys (pictured) is joining Baker McKenzie, having served as a partner at national firm Clayton Utz for the past four years, and in other roles for a decade before that.
He is bringing with him two senior associates: Grace Griffiths and Antonia Wayne-Boyle.
Gerakiteys is, Baker McKenzie said in a statement, a highly regarded litigator with deep experience across the full spectrum of intellectual property disputes, including trademarks, copyright, patents, confidential information, trade secrets, and domain names, who has acted for major Australian and multinational clients at every stage of the litigation life cycle, including in the High Court of Australia.
The team will start their new roles on Monday, 2 February.
The news follows the firm’s appointment of a new head of project finance in Melbourne in December and its addition of partners for its energy and tax groups in October.
Speaking about the new team, Baker McKenzie national managing partner Anne-Marie Allgrove – who recently spoke with Lawyers Weekly about where she sees opportunities for the firm this year – said that the appointments reflect the firm’s continued investment in strengthening its IP offering across Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
“Dean is an exceptional litigator with a proven record of success in some of Australia’s most significant IP cases,” she said.
“His combination of technical excellence, commercial insight and deep industry knowledge will be of tremendous value to our clients. We are delighted to welcome him to the partnership.”
The firm’s head of IP, Andrew Stewart, said: “Dean’s arrival is a significant increase in the bench strength of our national IP litigation capability. He brings not only a formidable track record in high-stakes disputes, but also the strategic judgement and client-centred approach that define our practice.
“Dean has acted in some of the most complex and commercially important IP matters in Australia, and his experience across major global brands aligns perfectly with the work our clients entrust to us. We are delighted to welcome him to our team and look forward to the leadership and insight he will bring to our growing practice.”
Gerakiteys said: “I am thrilled to be joining Baker McKenzie, a firm globally recognised for its depth and capability in intellectual property law.
“The opportunity to work alongside such a strong national and international team, and to support clients navigating increasingly complex IP challenges, is incredibly exciting. I look forward to contributing to the firm’s continued growth in this area.”
Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of professional services (including Lawyers Weekly, HR Leader, Accountants Daily, and Accounting Times). He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in New South Wales, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
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