Morrison & Foerster yesterday hired a Ropes & Gray patent litigator in an effort to bolster its practice on the East Coast and in Asia. Patricia A. Martone, who will practice from MoFo’s New York office, was the co-head of Ropes & Gray’s international practice group. She had been with Ropes & Gray since 2005, when it acquired IP boutique Fish & Neave.

Ms. Martone has been lead counsel in more than 40 patent infringement cases, according to the firm. Her client base includes several Japanese telecommunications and electronics companies, including Ricoh Company Ltd. and SANYO Electric Co. Ltd. She played a major role in Ropes & Gray’s move in 2007 to open an office in Tokyo. Her work for Japanese clients and MoFo’s presence in that market was a factor in making the move, she said. The firm opened in Tokyo in 1987 and has 120 lawyers in that office, compared to 11 for Ropes & Gray. “My practice will be better supported at Morrison & Foerster because of its international stature in IP,” Ms. Martone said. A spokesman for Ropes & Gray declined to comment. — Nate Raymond

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