HLK, the Bristol-based global intellectual property (IP) services group, has appointed Matthew Evans as its first business development director.
The group, which combines Haseltine Lake Kempner and Munich-headquartered HL Kempner Partnerschaft mbB, said the newly created position reinforced its strong ethos of quality and outstanding client service. 
The group provides a full suite of IP services advising across all technical and scientific disciplines.
Matthew, pictured, has more than 15 years’ experience in the sector and brings with him a wealth of expertise and knowledge in professional services, said HLK.
He has joined from Bristol-headquartered national law firm Burges Salmon, where he spent eight-and-a-half years as a marketing coordinator and then senior business development manager.
He studied at Swansea University, the University of South Wales and Acadia University in Canada.
He is also a member of the PM Forum South West Committee, the world’s largest community for professional services marketers, and is committed to enhancing the credibility and standards of the marketing profession.
Matthew will be responsible for leading the business development and marketing functions at HLK, boosting its commitment to fostering close and long-standing relationships, in some cases with clients it has worked for more than 50 years.
Matthew said: “HLK has an outstanding reputation within intellectual property circles and is in a great position to achieve its ambitions for growth.
“I’m looking forward to working with our people to help our clients develop and protect their transformational innovations and brands.”
HLK CEO Graham Lambert added: “I’m delighted to welcome Matt to the firm. He brings deep experience of developing and driving business relationships and growth, and will ensure that we have ‘the voice of the client’ right at the centre of our decision making and business plans.
“HLK has just completed a very successful year, and we are energised and excited by the opportunities that lie ahead for our clients and our people.”
HLK advises on the strategy, identification, protection, opposition and appeal, exploitation and enforcement of IP rights, and defends its clients from allegations of infringement by focusing on acquiring competitive advantage for its clients.
Its resources and expertise are exclusively dedicated to IP protection: safeguarding the inventions, creative designs, brand identities and other innovations of its clients.
It also has offices in London, Leeds, Glasgow, The Netherlands and Guangzhou, China.
