Cozen O’Connor announced that patent litigators Richard T. Ruzich, Kerry B. McTigue, Barry Golob, Donald R. McPhail, Joseph M. Bennett-Paris, Ph.D, Ian Scott and Blake Coblentz have joined the firm’s rapidly expanding intellectual property group as Members. Two associates have also joined the firm –Aaron S. Lukas, Ph.D. and Elese Hanson. The nine attorneys joined Cozen from Duane Morris and are based out of offices spread over Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York and Atlanta. They work together closely and focus their practices on complex patent litigation, to include representation of generic drug manufacturers in Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA)/biosimilars litigation and consumer electronics corporations in district court patent infringement actions across the United States.

Husch Blackwell welcomes Jeffrey A. Goldman to the firm’s Kansas City, Mo., office as a Partner. Goldman has worked in the area of Tax law for more than 15 years and “brings deep experience in both tax controversy/litigation matters and transactional tax matters, including international tax issues,” said Mark Welker, Chair of the firm’s Tax & Benefits Department.

Global law firm K&L Gates LLP welcomes Jan P. Weir as a partner in the firm’s Orange County office. Weir and three associates join K&L Gates’ intellectual property litigation practice from Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth LLP.

International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has advised DUKE Real Estate Limited on the refinancing of its €1.1 billion debt facilities. The refinancing extends the term of DUKE’s debt facilities to December 2016.

Krieg DeVault is pleased to announce that attorney George E. Purdy has recently joined Krieg DeVault as a Partner. Mr. Purdy, who brings over 32 years of legal experience to the firm, joins Krieg DeVault’s 55 member Litgation practice group. He will concentrate his practice in the areas of complex and commercial litigation, including intellectual property litigation, products liability and asbestos defense, and defense of class actions. He currently serves as National Coordinating Counsel for asbestos litigation for Cummins Inc.