Sonnenschein Substantially Expands its Intellectual Property Practice with Key Patent Group
February 26, 2008
Patent counseling and litigation group moves en masse to Sonnenschein in Dallas
(DALLAS, February 26, 2008)—Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP announced today that a nationally-recognized group of lawyers led by prominent Dallas intellectual property attorney Gerald T. Welch has joined its office here. The 10-member team comes to Sonnenschein from Patton Boggs LLP, where Welch was deputy chair of the national intellectual property department and a member of the firm’s managing committee. The group includes partners Mark C. Nelson, Darren W. Collins, Gary B. Solomon and Robert C. Hilton, four associates and a patent agent. Their practice focuses on patent prosecution and counseling in the electrical, telecommunications and medical device fields, and patent litigation in these areas and the life sciences, with experience in the Eastern District of Texas.
“Jerry and his team have built an outstanding practice with premier clients in Texas and beyond,” said Elliott I. Portnoy, Sonnenschein chairman. “Their move to Sonnenschein is a major step forward not only in growing our Dallas office, but also in achieving our goal of creating one of the preeminent intellectual property groups in the country.”
“This is an incredibly talented group of attorneys who perfectly complement our existing strengths, particularly in the areas of electronics, telecommunications, software and biotechnology,” noted Carol Anne Been, chair of Sonnenschein’s Intellectual Property & Technology Group. “The addition of their diverse technology experience and impressive and growing client base will confirm Sonnenschein as a premier intellectual property practice.”
“Adding top-tier patent litigation experience in Dallas for cases in the litigation hotbed of East Texas is a key element of our national growth strategy,” stated Alexander J. Hadjis, chair of Sonnenschein’s Patent Litigation Group. “This group’s in-depth knowledge of the Eastern District, combined with the strength and experience of our patent litigation team firmwide, offers clients unrivaled value.”
Been and Hadjis also noted the synergies between Welch and his group’s life sciences patent litigation experience and Sonnenschein’s agricultural biotechnology practice, which is considered one of the strongest in the country. In particular, the new group’s work complements that of Dr. Robert E. Hanson, a leading ag biotech attorney who joined the firm in Dallas last fall.
“Our team is delighted to be joining a firm with a strong commitment to and presence in the intellectual property arena,” said Welch. “Sonnenschein’s broad national platform and unique collaborative culture will be instrumental in the growth of our practice in Dallas and across the country.”
The associates joining Sonnenschein as part of the group are Kevin S. Afghani, Darin W. Deaver, Brian D. Owens and Dennis L. Vautrot. The patent agent is Michael W. Maddox.
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Media Contact:
Linda Butler
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP
(312) 876-3453
LButler@sonnenschein.com
