International law firm McDermott Will & Emery LLP today announced that it has hired some twenty-five experienced Intellectual Property (IP) attorneys and patent agents so far this year as it works to keep pace with growing demand for the Firm’s IP prosecution, transaction and strategy service offerings in Silicon Valley and four other U.S. cities. A steady uptick in client activity that started in January 2011 continues to accelerate at a rapid pace, with the Firm adding ten new attorneys in the month of September alone. The Firm expects to hire an additional group of at least twenty more attorneys and patent agents by the spring of 2012, expanding McDermott’s IP prosecution, transaction and strategy practice group to record levels.
Of particular note, McDermott recently named Lin Deng as a partner in the Silicon Valley office. Ms. Deng, who joins the Firm from a prominent intellectual property law firm, focuses her practice on patent prosecution, trademark protection and client counseling, and has worked with major Chinese companies on their IP strategies and patent portfolio management.
In addition, the Firm also named Victoria Friedman as counsel in the Chicago office. Ms. Friedman will increase and strengthen the Firms’ capabilities in U.S. and foreign patent and trademark prosecution matters. Earlier this year, McDermott welcomed John D. Magluyan as a partner in its Intellectual Property Prosecution, Transactions and Strategy Practice, based in Orange County.
“We are delighted to welcome Lin, John and Victoria – and all of our other strategic new hires – to McDermott as we continue to build critical mass around the country,” said Mark J. Itri, partner and head of McDermott’s IP Prosecution, Transactions & Strategy Practice Group. “While the recent trend of corporations consolidating their use of outside firms for their IP prosecution work has been bad for some in the IP prosecution industry, McDermott has been one of the primary beneficiaries of this shift, and continues to increase our workload as a result. We’re looking forward to building on a stellar track record in IP services, and our reputation for being one of the top IP firms in the country.”
“This rapid growth in our IP Prosecution, Transactions & Strategy Practice Group is a testament to the strong work our attorneys do every day to help our clients navigate a complex and fast-changing, patent landscape,” said Margaret Warner, partner and head of McDermott’s Controversies Business Unit. “With the passage of the America Invents Act, and the move towards a first-to-file system in the U.S., McDermott is well positioned across all geographies to help our clients quickly adapt and succeed in today’s changing environments.”
The new hires, which include partners, associates, counsel, patent attorneys and patent agents, range across several McDermott geographies, and will help the Firm better serve a growing number of hot-bed technology and entrepreneurial communities throughout the country.
“As the high-tech industry continues to experience a significant uptick in new patent filings and registrations in areas such as Internet services, telecommunications and mobile, cloud computing, nanotechnology and medical device technology, McDermott is moving with the market to ensure that our clients’ current, and future, IP needs are accounted for,” added Itri.
With 185 attorneys around the world, McDermott’s Intellectual Property practice is renowned for its broad trial, appellate and prosecution experience. More than 125 members of McDermott’s intellectual property team hold technical and/or scientific degrees and more than 100 are registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). McDermott’s intellectual property practice includes numerous lawyers with valuable industry experience as well as former USPTO examiners and petition specialists. Our lawyers and agents were responsible for the issuance of 1,928 U.S. patents issued in 2010 alone.
