Kaye Scholer Announces Significant Expansion of Palo Alto Office With High-Profile Trio Barbara Caulfield, Michael J. Malecek and Peter Root
NEW YORK – Kaye Scholer LLP announced today that Barbara Caulfield, Michael J. Malecek and Peter Root have joined Kaye Scholer’s Palo Alto office as Partners in its Intellectual Property practice. Caulfield, Malecek and Root were previously Partners at Dewey & LeBoeuf.
Barbara Caulfield, formerly the Managing Partner of Dewey & LeBoeuf’s Silicon Valley office, and the former Co-Chair of its Global Life Sciences Industry Sector and its Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Group, focuses her practice on complex intellectual property litigation for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Ms. Caulfield was previously Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Affymetrix, Inc., a biotechnology company in Silicon Valley, and served as a United States District Judge in the Northern District of California from 1991–1994. In addition, she has taught various courses at Northwestern Law School, University of California, Hastings College of Law and University of Oregon Law School. Ms. Caulfield has also given lectures and instructed on trial advocacy programs around the country, including at Harvard University Law School and the San Francisco Bar Association Advocacy Training Program. Ms. Caulfield was selected as one of The Daily Journal’s “Top Women Litigators” in both 2009 and 2010. The Daily Journal’s annual list aims to highlight women lawyers who are working on cutting-edge cases.
Michael J. Malecek has experience in all areas of litigation, including white collar, compliance, securities and employment, with an emphasis on patent litigation. Mr. Malecek previously served as the Chief Advocacy Counsel for Affymetrix, Inc. and was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern and Northern Districts of California, where he investigated and prosecuted technology-related and intellectual property crimes, such as extensive counterfeit software rings and other white collar matters. Mr. Malecek was named one of The Daily Journal’s “Top 75 IP Litigators” in California for 2010.
Peter Root focuses on complex business and commercial litigation with an emphasis on intellectual property and technology matters, securities and corporate governance litigation, and claims arising from mergers and acquisitions. As both trial and appellate counsel, Mr. Root has handled a wide variety of civil litigation matters in federal and state court, including securities class and mass actions, shareholder derivative, unfair competition and fiduciary litigation, patent infringement and other intellectual property disputes, contract and fraud suits, and tax and ERISA controversies.
Kaye Scholer’s Life Sciences, Intellectual Property and Complex Commercial Litigation practices are routinely praised by clients and legal publications alike. Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business commends the lawyers in the Intellectual Property practice for “exceptional judgment in disputes, founded on their experience and strong tactical skills” and praises the firm’s “great courtroom lawyers, always one step ahead of the opposing side.” Kaye Scholer’s Life Sciences Patent practice is lauded as "a first choice for clients seeking representation in life sciences-related patent matters” and noted for its “deep industry knowledge and the resources of a network of offices in Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, Washington, DC and New York.” Chambers praises the firm’s Complex Commercial practice for a “strong focus on litigation.” “Sources emphasize the strong teamwork within the firm and consider it a cost-effective choice for commercial disputes.”
Quotes
Co-Managing Partners Barry Willner and Michael B. Solow, commented on behalf of the firm: “With today’s announcement, Kaye Scholer continues to strengthen its position as a premier Life Sciences, Intellectual Property and Complex Commercial Litigation law firm. Following the opening of our Palo Alto office and the hiring of William Sloan Coats earlier this year, we view this expansion as the next step in a multi-step process of expanding the Palo Alto office’s offerings to firm clients, which includes a desire to add a significant corporate presence in Silicon Valley.”
Barbara Caulfield said “Michael, Peter and I are thrilled about the opportunity to join Kaye Scholer’s talented group of lawyers. Kaye Scholer not only has a track record of successfully litigating on behalf of its clients, but also has the deep substantive experience necessary to counsel its clients. This combination is the perfect fit for our practice, and we look forward to working with our new colleagues.”
William Sloan Coats, Managing Partner of Kaye Scholer’s Palo Alto office, said, “The addition of Barbara, Michael and Peter helps us expand our footprint in Silicon Valley with the most talented Life Sciences, Intellectual Property and Complex Commercial Litigation lawyers, and is just one more example of Kaye Scholer’s commitment to building an ever more dynamic global practice.”
“Barbara, Michael and Peter add to Kaye Scholer's great collection and tradition of true intellectual property trial lawyers,” said Alan M. Fisch, Co-Chair of Kaye Scholer’s Intellectual Property practice. "This impressive team is a wonderful fit with our strategic plan, it is great to have them here.”
