Lewis Silkin bolsters dispute resolution team with media and tech IP specialist

Lewis Silkin is strengthening its dispute resolution practice with the hire of media and tech IP specialist Neil Parkes. He joins the firm as a commercial disputes expert from Foot Anstey, where he was a partner focusing on the media, entertainment and technology sectors.

The move reflects Lewis Silkin’s desire to keep up with the “increasingly litigious” media and technology industries. Parkes joins the firm with 20 years of experience, including a senior in-house role at Sky and as GC at the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT). He also brings a wealth of knowledge in handling IP matters in the digital media space, having navigated contentious anti-piracy matters relating to music and broadcasting rights.

Commenting on the move, Parkes said: “The disruptive and innovative nature of digital media and tech can naturally lead to disputes and I’m excited to get work underway on securing the very best results for Lewis Silkin clients.”

Mark Lim, partner and head of dispute resolution at Lewis Silkin, said Parkes’ vast experience “will prove invaluable” amidst growing client demand for specialist support with commercial dispute cases.

“Neil joins a formidable team of dispute resolution lawyers covering all manner of commercial disputes, ensuring we are ideally placed to litigate across the full spectrum of IP rights,” he added.

Parkes’ appointment follows a busy start to the year for Lewis Silkin. A triple hire in January saw the addition of Antony Craggs as IP litigation partner in the firm’s London office, Geraint Tilsley as corporate partner in Cardiff and David Swain as head of IP in Hong Kong.

Parkes rounds out Lewis Silkin’s 15 partner-strong dispute resolution practice, which has become a particular area of focus for the firm over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to deal with shifting client landscapes and uncertainty, the firm has also launched an initiative called LS Unlock. Comprised of a free initial assessment of significant commercial claims and a menu of alternative fee arrangements, it is meant to remove or reduce the cost risk of litigation for clients and enable them to keep a firm grip on their legal expenditure.