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09 March 2026
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
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EIP—Catherine Howell

IP firm promotes first home-grown litigation partner
EIP has promoted Catherine Howell to partner, marking a milestone as she becomes the firm’s first home-grown litigation partner. She joined the firm as a trainee solicitor in 2015 and has progressed through its litigation practice, most recently serving as managing associate.

An IP solicitor, Howell has experience across proceedings in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, as well as multi-jurisdictional patent litigation. Her practice focuses on FRAND and SEP disputes, technical patent litigation and strategic advice on jurisdiction and confidentiality, and she has acted in cases including Unwired Planet v Huawei & Samsung and Optis v Apple.

Chief executive officer Magnus Hallin said: ‘Cat’s progression from trainee to partner is a proud moment for the firm’ and that she ‘represents the very best of EIP’s litigation practice.’ Head of litigation Andrew Sharples added: ‘Cat has made an invaluable contribution to some of the most complex and influential patent cases of the last decade.’

Howell is recommended in Legal 500 and has been named a ‘Rising Star’ by Managing IP for six consecutive years, reflecting her standing within the IP community.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Haynes Boone—Jeremy Cross

Haynes Boone—Jeremy Cross

Firm strengthens global fund finance practice with London partner hire.

DWF—Stephen Webb

DWF—Stephen Webb

Partner and head of national planning team appointed

mfg Solicitors—Nick Little

mfg Solicitors—Nick Little

Corporate team expands in Birmingham with partner hire

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