SAN FRANCISCO — James Elacqua and Andrew Thomases are jumping from Dechert to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in Silicon Valley, according to people familiar with the deal.

Skadden is scooping up the two successful patent litigators after losing one of their own , Jeffrey Randall, to Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker in August. Skadden has been pounding the pavement for a proven IP trial lawyer since then, according to recruiters and local patent lawyers.