Prominent Patent Litigation Team Led By David Perkins Joins Arnold & Porter In London
LONDON, January 8, 2010 - Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP announced today that a leading patent litigation team of four lawyers led by David Perkins has joined the firm in London. The group, which includes Christopher Stothers, Ben Clossick Thomson, and Stephanie Hutchinson, has a wealth of experience in electrical, pharmaceutical, and medical device patent litigation in the United Kingdom and Continental Europe, Oppositions and Appeals before the European Patent Office, and international arbitration.
"David is one of the most highly respected and well-known figures in the European patent bar," said Arnold & Porter Chair Thomas Milch. "His experienced team will add depth to our internationally recognized IP practice and further strengthen our growing patent practice firmwide." In the past two months, the firm has brought on patent prosecution lawyers Ginger Dreger and Todd Lorenz in San Francisco. Ms. Dreger works with a team of 13 professionals, and both lawyers have strong experience in the biotechnology and life sciences sectors.
"We have a vibrant and growing IP practice in London, and David's group will make an immense contribution to our strength in this area," said Tim Frazer, head of the firm's London office. "This team has been involved in many high-profile European litigations and has considerable experience in industry sectors that are key to our clients, including medical devices, pharmaceutical, and life sciences."
Mr. Perkins has served in major leadership positions in the IP practice area at international law firms. He is a former member of the UK government's Intellectual Property Advisory Committee (IPAC); a Council Member of the Intellectual Property Institute; a founding member of the Intellectual Property Lawyers Organization; a WIPO arbitrator; and a member of many major international intellectual property associations. Mr. Perkins' practice involves multijurisdictional patent litigation, as well as trademark and antitrust issues. He also handled oppositions and appeals before the European Patent office in Munich and references to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. Mr. Perkins was ranked in the No. 1 band for Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation by Chambers UK 2010, and has been described by Chambers as "an amazing seasoned litigator" who is "outstandingly knowledgeable and immensely active."
"Arnold & Porter has a dynamic and successful IP practice in the London office," said Mr. Perkins. "I am impressed by the firm's overall commitment to IP and life sciences, and the caliber of lawyers with whom we will be working. Our team greatly looks forward to joining Arnold & Porter in London."
Mr. Perkins and his team join a quickly growing group of IP lawyers in London. In 2008, the London office was expanded with the addition of trademark lawyer Jonathan Day (trademark and design litigation; brand protection and management; and the IP aspects of corporate deals) and intellectual property lawyer Richard Dickinson (non-contentious work; regulatory and commercial issues; and arrangements and agreements, with particular focus on the media and entertainment, branded-goods and retail sectors). Clive Thorne and Ian Kirby are both long-standing members of the IP group in London and have well-established practices in IP litigation and arbitration.
Arnold & Porter's intellectual property group has more than 85 attorneys practicing in both the United States and United Kingdom. The group handles complex IP counseling and litigation involving copyright disputes and arbitrations, patent infringement actions, patent procurement, and licensing transactions.
Arnold & Porter LLP is an international law firm of more than 675 lawyers with offices in Brussels, Denver, London, Los Angeles, New York, Northern Virginia, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. The firm, founded in 1946, maintains more than 25 practice areas spanning a broad spectrum of the law, with a primary focus on litigation, transactional matters, and regulatory issues.