Amid a spurt of Am Law 200 hires in IP litigation this week, law firms are targeting the practice as a growth area in 2024 and partly as a way to expand firmwide, according to firm leaders and observers.

The optimism is reflected in the lateral market so far this year. Sidley Austin; Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe; Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton; and Squire Patton Boggs have all announced new IP lateral partners this week.