Posts Tagged: "Patent Attorneys"

On Jan. 25, 2018, Munck Wilson Mandala elected intellectual property associate Neil Ferrari as a new partner, effective January 1, 2018.  Mr. Ferrari is a member of MWM’s technology/intellectual property law group and has a broad range of legal experience in patent matters. “Neil is one of the hardest working attorneys in our firm and I am pleased to see his commitment lead to this next phase of his legal career with us,” said William Munck, MWM’s managing partner.

Akin Gump has announced that Steven D. Maslowski has been named co-head of the firm’s intellectual property practice. Mr. Maslowski will transition into the role of sole leader of the practice during the next several months, after which time Steven M. Zager, who had been serving as the sole head of the practice since 2005, will step down to return to his full-time practice of law.

Orrick recently announced the promotion of 19 lawyers to the firm’s partnership, effective January 1, 2018 including 7 attorneys in Litigation and IP. Those being made partner include Mel Bostwick, Karsten Faulhaber, Brian Goldman, Jacob Heath, Alvin Lee, Emily Tabatabai, and Scott Ward.

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. announces the election of five new directors – Daniel Gajewski, Miklos Gaszner, M.D., Ph.D., Adam LaRock, Trey Powers, Ph.D., and Deirdre Wells – effective January 1, 2018.

Snell & Wilmer is pleased to announce six attorneys have been elected to join the firm’s partnership, effective January 1, 2018. In addition, five attorneys were elected to counsel. Among those are new IP Partner Jeffrey D. Morton, and new IP Counsel Andrew S. Flior.

Fish & Richardson has elevated 21 attorneys to principal at the firm, effective January 1, 2018. The new principals in the firm’s Litigation Group are: Erin Alper and Jacqueline Tio (Atlanta); Elizabeth Brenckman (New York); Jane Du (Dallas); Joanna Fuller (San Diego); Brian Livedalen (Washington, D.C.); Warren Mabey, Jr. (Delaware); and Neil Warren (Silicon Valley). The new principals in the Patent Group are: Dr. Andrea Dorigo (Munich); Dr. Heather Flanagan (Austin); Dr. Angela Follett, Chris Hoff, and Jennifer Huang (Twin Cities); David Holt, Nick Jepsen, Chris Ma, and Andrew Patrick (Washington, D.C.); Dr. Sushil Iyer, formerly Sushil Shrinivasan, (Dallas); Dr. Tiffany Reiter (Boston); and Michael Portnov and Michael Shepherd (Silicon Valley).

For patent practitioners, this year packed in a lot of activity: Fractured Federal Circuit en banc decisions resolving who bears the burden of proof on motions to amend in an inter partes review (IPR) proceeding and wading into the Apple-Samsung wars, and U.S. Supreme Court decisions on patent exhaustion, design patent damages, the fairly untested Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA), and venue. And there’s still more coming, with outstanding opinions from the Federal Circuit on the reviewability of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s (PTAB) time bar decisions and from the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of IPRs and the PTAB’s authority to institute proceedings partially. Coming off such a blockbuster year, what comes next? Here are six predictions.

Alston & Bird LLP has announced the election of 21 lawyers to its partnership, effective January 1, including 6 of whom are new partners based in the firm’s Intellectual Property Area: Adam D. Swain, Helen Su, Nadya Sand, Chris Lightner, Christopher B. Kelly, Thomas Davison.

F. Scott Kieff, former Commissioner of the International Trade Commission (ITC), has joined McKool Smith as a Principal in its Washington, D.C. office. Nominated by President Obama, Mr. Kieff served as Commissioner of the ITC from October 2013 to June 2017.

Haynes and Boone, LLP is proud to announce the promotion of three intellectual property attorneys to members within the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group.  The new partners are Charlie Jones, Michael Parsons, and Clint Wilkins. 

Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto announced that effective January 1, 2018, Christopher Gerson and Damien Dombrowski have been named partners of the firm.

Leason Ellis LLP is pleased to announce that patent attorneys Safet Metjahic and Dr. Paul M. Zagar have joined the firm as Partners and Lauren Beth Emerson, a trademark and copyright attorney, has joined as Counsel.

Dennemeyer & Associates is pleased to welcome two new IP attorneys, Steven Shape as Managing Partner and Lauren Stevens, to the Chicago, United States office.  Steve and Lauren bring a wealth of patent preparation, prosecution and litigation experience to the firm.

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney is growing a differentiating advisory service that closely links patent and product development strategies through the addition of Marc Adler. Formerly assistant general counsel and chief IP counsel at Rohm & Haas—a specialty chemicals manufacturer acquired by Dow Chemical—Adler helps businesses address competitive and market forces through legal actions, business partnerships and effective patent and trade secret management.  

The point here is you need to be mindful that patent practitioners are frequently on guard when dealing with independent inventors. As with virtually everything in all walks of life, the more you know in advance the better prepared you can be… The patent attorney or patent agent you hire is there to represent you. They are not the inventor, and they need your assistance. If you really have an invention you know the invention better than anyone. Cooperation is critical. Communication is critical. The opportunity to establish a working relationship starts with the first meeting or contact, hence the need to be prepared.