Thomsons Lawyers has announced two new partner appointments in its IP practice.

The firm has made a lateral hire with  IP and competition specialist Josh Simons, who started his career at Thomsons, before leaving to join Minter Ellison as a partner in 2006.  He  joins Thomsons together with senior associate Bronwyn Furse and trademark attorney Sharon Bandick, who both previously worked with him at Minter Ellison.

In a further boost to the firm's IP practice, Thomsons has also promoted senior associate Matthew Prescott to the partnership. Prescott’s expertise includes software, technology and procurement and he has significant experience in privacy, competition and consumer regulation and franchising.