Press Releases

Kemp Little recruits new strategic hires to strengthen specialist technology competition and litigation offering

July 2008

Kemp Little LLP, the UK’s leading technology specialist, has further boosted its competition and litigation practices with the recruitment of Rachel Iley and Jessica Stretch.

Rachel Iley joins Kemp Little’s fast expanding Competition and Regulatory practice six months after it was launched by Susannah Sheppard in January 2008, whilst Jessica Stretch is the latest addition to Paul Garland’s flourishing IP and Technology Litigation practice, which has just celebrated its first birthday.

Commenting on Rachel’s arrival, Susannah Sheppard, head of competition said:

"Rachel’s arrival coincides with a period of heightened market demand for competition advice, driven by increasing regulatory scrutiny and a growing appreciation of competition law as a strategic tool to achieve a company’s commercial goals. Rachel’s breadth of experience further strengthens our competition team, in turn delivering on our commitment to provide a truly comprehensive technology focused service to our clients".

Paul Garland, head of litigation echoed Susannah’s comments saying:

"Jessica’s arrival marks a significant milestone in the development of Kemp Little’s Litigation practice and enables us to guide our clients through all aspects of dispute resolution, including larger and more complex disputes".

Commenting on Rachel and Jessica’s recruitment, Richard Kemp, senior partner said:

"We are delighted that Rachel and Jessica have chosen to develop their careers with Kemp Little. Increasing market demand for industry focused legal specialists has underpinned our double digit growth over the last twenty four months, which in turn has enabled us to attract a wealth of talent to broaden our client offering and further strengthen our position as the leading UK technology specialist".

Rachel Iley specialises in EU and UK competition law, providing advice on all aspects of competition law and regulatory compliance in a wide range of industries, as well as on commencing and defending actions relating to both UK and European competition law. Rachel has extensive experience of UK and EU mergers, and particular expertise in market investigations, having advised a number of clients on their operational and strategic implications. Since qualifying in 2001, Rachel has worked in both London and Brussels and has also spent time on secondment as an in-house lawyer with a market leading company. Rachel joins Kemp Little from SJ Berwin.

Jessica Stretch is a specialist IP litigator. Jessica has experience advising clients in the technology, media and entertainment industries. Her arrival further strengthens Kemp Little’s comprehensive IP and technology dispute resolution offering. Jessica joins Kemp Little from Osborne Clarke where she qualified in 2006.

- ENDS -

About Kemp Little LLP:

Kemp Little is recognised as the UK’s leading technology-focused law firm. The practice specialises in technology sectors and the sectors that technology transforms.

We act for leading organisations across the range of technology and communications industries and in sectors where technology transforms how business operates like financial services, media, travel, retail, professional services, healthcare and the public sector. Our clients range from the largest global public companies and organisations to early stage ventures with exciting new technologies.

We are genuinely innovative in what we do. We were recently voted one of Europe’s 50 most innovative law firms by the Financial Times for the second year running and we were the first UK law firm to launch a WIP extranet letting clients see ‘what’s on the clock’..

For further information, please contact:

Susannah Sheppard, Head of Competition
Tel: (020) 7710 1659, email:susannah.sheppard@kemplittle.com

Paul Garland, Head of Litigation
Tel: (020) 7710 1617, email:paul.garland@kemplittle.com

Richard Kemp, Senior Partner
Tel: (020) 7710 1610, email:richard.kemp@kemplittle.com

The firm is located at:
Cheapside House
138 Cheapside
London EC2V 6BJ
Tel: 020 7600 8080
Fax: 020 7600 7878

For further information please see the firm's website at www.kemplittle.com.