Prominent Patent Litigation Team to Join Arnold & Porter in Washington, DC and Los Angeles
Group Brings Substantial Experience in Medical Device, Healthcare, and Life Sciences Sectors
Washington, DC and Los Angeles, March 11, 2011 -- Arnold & Porter LLP announced today that a patent litigation team of 13 lawyers will join the firm's Washington, DC and Los Angeles offices. The group, which includes partners Matthew Wolf, Edward Han, and Jennifer Sklenar, brings extensive experience to Arnold & Porter's current team of patent litigation lawyers and will boost its intellectual property practice to more than 100 lawyers. The group has extensive technical and scientific knowledge in the medical device, pharmaceutical, and life sciences sectors. The team will be fully in place by March 16.
"Within a few moments of meeting Matt Wolf, I understood why clients respect him so much in the patent field," said Chair Thomas Milch. "This team will help expand our East and West Coast capabilities, deepen our roster of patent litigators, and strengthen our ability to serve clients, particularly in the healthcare sector where we have shared client relationships."
"Arnold & Porter has a talented bench of IP lawyers throughout the firm," said Mr. Wolf. "We believe our experience will complement and strengthen the firm's capabilities in both complex litigation and patent litigation. We are extremely pleased to join this firm."
"Our group looks forward to this opportunity to continue to grow our practice, not only because Arnold & Porter has an excellent reputation nationally for its intellectual property practice, but because this is truly an ideal fit for us," said Mr. Han.
Joining the firm in Washington, DC are:
Matthew M. Wolf, a trial lawyer who has been lead counsel in some of the most significant cases brought by and against leading technology companies. Mr. Wolf's practice focuses on patent, trade secret, licensing and business tort issues in the medical and biomedical technologies sectors as well as in the computer hardware and software industries. Chambers USA 2010, which ranks Mr. Wolf for patent litigation, noted he receives strong praise from his clients, one of whom said, "I would highly recommend Matt to anyone except one of my competitors." He is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law.
Edward Han, who has worked on a variety of complex commercial litigation matters, including intellectual property cases, antitrust and securities matters, and contractual disputes. He has represented clients in such diverse industries as medical devices, telecommunications, and precious metals. He has been in private practice for twenty years and served in a leadership position at his former firm. In addition, he has experience in economic forecasting and consulting. Mr. Han is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center.
John E. Nilsson, who has represented clients in patent litigation in numerous states including California, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Texas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. These cases have focused on matters in the medical device technology and life sciences sectors. Mr. Nilsson is a graduate of Boston College School of Law and served as a clerk for Judge Susan Bucklew on the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Marc A. Cohn, who specializes in medical device litigation and arbitration, including patent infringement, contract, and business tort cases. His experience includes cardiac stents and catheters, women's health, electronic tissue stimulators, magnetic resonance imaging, and medical ultrasound, as well as telecommunications systems, DNA sequencing reagents, diapers, and commercial lawn mowers. Mr. Cohn holds an undergraduate degree in engineering physics from Cornell University and is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law.
Joining the firm in Los Angeles are:
Jennifer A. Sklenar, whose practice centers on intellectual property litigation and counseling, particularly in the biotech and medical device fields. She has an extensive background managing litigation and significant in-court experience. She has experience drafting and negotiating licensing agreements and has counseled clients on intellectual property matters. She holds an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering and is a graduate of Hofstra University School of Law.
Wallace Wu, PhD, who concentrates his practice on patent litigation in the areas of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. He has represented clients in district courts across the country and before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in matters involving nucleic acids, medical devices, and scientific instruments. Dr. Wu is admitted to practice before the Patent and Trademark Office and has experience in patent prosecution and portfolio evaluation. He has a PhD in biochemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a degree from Santa Clara University School of Law.
Arnold & Porter has been expanding its focus on patent work for clients in both the prosecution and litigation areas in the past two years. Last month, a trial litigation team concentrating on intellectual property matters led by James DiBoise and Michael Berta joined in San Francisco. In December 2009, Ginger Dreger came on board with a patent prosecution team focusing on the life sciences sector and helped to establish the firm's Silicon Valley office. In January 2010, a patent litigation team led by David Perkins with experience in electrical, pharmaceutical, and medical device patent litigation joined in London. In October 2010, senior patent litigator Robert P. Taylor, who counsels Silicon Valley companies on IP and antitrust issues, joined the firm in San Francisco.
Arnold & Porter's intellectual property practice is international in scope, with more than 100 lawyers practicing in the areas of patents, copyrights, trademarks, rights of publicity, trade secrets, and related issues. Many members of the IP team also have backgrounds in scientific disciplines and engineering, as well as vital industry-sector experience that allows them to counsel clients on legal needs in the context of long-term strategic planning. The firm's IP lawyers work closely with lawyers from related practice areas who have experience addressing the special issues involving IP in other areas of law, such as US antitrust and European competition, corporate law, public policy, product liability, and government contracts. Chambers USA 2010 ranks Arnold & Porter in the number one band nationally and in Washington DC for IP: Trademark, Copyright and Trade Secrets. The firm is also ranked as a leading firm for IP in California, New York, and Northern Virginia.
Arnold & Porter LLP is an international law firm of more than 700 lawyers with offices in Brussels, Denver, London, Los Angeles, New York, Northern Virginia, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, 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.