Rouse appoints global dispute resolution head

IP firm Rouse has appointed a patent litigator as global head of dispute resolution, based in the firm’s Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China offices.

Doug Clark, who will take up the role in January 2020, has more than 25 years of IP litigation and commercial law experience in China.

He will lead the Rouse’s dispute resolution practice, with a particular focus on multinational cross border disputes and the development of Rouse’s IP arbitration practice. Clark will also form part of Rouse’s strategic IP consultancy offering.

Luke Minford, CEO of Rouse, said: “Doug’s experience of leading complex cross border disputes in Asia is truly second to none. What got Doug and us excited is the combination of his strategic expertise together with Rouse’s on-the-ground depth and capability in China and across the Asia-Pacific region.”

Before 2010, Clark spent 18 years in private practice with a UK-based law firm, where he established the firm’s mainland China IP practice as well as founding and serving as managing partner of the Shanghai office.

Since then, Clark has practised as a barrister appearing in IP cases and appeals at all levels in Hong Kong and has also sat as an arbitrator and acted as an advocate in high technology patent arbitrations.

Clark has handled more than 2,000 patent, trademark, copyright and passing off/unfair competition cases in Hong Kong and China.

His appointment comes just weeks after the opening of the firm’s newest office in China’s technology capital, Shenzhen.

Clark added: “I am very excited to join Rouse to lead and expand the international dispute resolution practice. Rouse’s platform across China and Asia is second to none. The opportunity to take such a strong practice to the next level was too good to refuse.”

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