The Rouse Group has appointed 19 new Principals to strengthen its capabilities across key practice areas. As a part of their continued integration, this new cohort of Principals come from Group businesses aera, Arnold & Siedsma, Konsert Strategy & IP, Rouse and Wrays.
These appointments reflect the talent, capability, and leadership strength embedded across the organisation as it continues to evolve into the first truly global and integrated IP services firm.
Since 2022, Rouse has adopted a shareholding structure that enables the promotion of key employees to the role of Principal rather than partner. Principals work across four key areas; ensuring quality of service, building sustainable growth across client relationships, leading and managing successful teams across services and geographies and contributing to the financial success of the business.
Eight of these Principals were appointed from Arnold & Siedsma, a long-established European firm with offices across the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany and a specialism in patents, trade marks and litigation. These include Aleidus van’t Hof, Nick Schopman, Sara Reekmans, Robbert Keij, Lisa Imbernon, Nicole van Roon, Elka Stegeman and Remco van Leeuwen.
Seven of the Principals were appointed from Wrays, including CEO, Paula Adamson, Vineetha Veerakumar, Daniel Beck, Penelope Farbey, Natalie Shoolman, Richard Baddeley and Judith Miller. Wrays, based in Australia and operating in New Zealand, is a leading full-service intellectual property firm with capabilities spanning patents, trade marks, designs, disputes and commercial IP. The firm advises innovative businesses across the IP lifecycle, combining technical depth with strategic and litigation expertise.
The other appointments are from aera, Konsert and Rouse. Jane Møller Nielsen, from aera is a patent specialist and UPC Representative, Also from aera is Lars Karnøe, legal counsel, European trade mark and design attorney and UPC Representative. Therese Werner, Head of AI at management consultancy Konsert and Chris Bailey, Head of UK and Europe enforcement who spent 25 years living and working in China.
The promotions follow Julia Hayhoe’s appointment as Chair of the Rouse Group, bringing female representation in the Group leadership to 49%.
Luke Minford, CEO at the Rouse Group said: “These promotions are a testament to the remarkable talent and dedication these individuals bring to Rouse. Their success highlights the opportunities available to companies that become part of our organisation - where growth, innovation, and leadership are encouraged at every stage. We remain committed to nurturing diverse talent and empowering all our colleagues to reach their full potential as we continue building a stronger, more dynamic future together for the benefit of our clients.”
These appointments demonstrate the ongoing opportunities for progression across the Rouse Group, bring further diversity to the existing group of Principals at Rouse, and help cement the balance between brand and technology practice areas and between Rouse’s EMEA and APAC operations.
Together, these new leaders will strengthen Rouse’s capabilities and broaden the expertise available to clients, offering a deeper bench of senior talent across more jurisdictions and disciplines.
