The IP STARS research team keeps a close watch on lateral hires, departures, and other developments in firms. Below is a roundup of some of the people moves and firm news in the Americas this year.
UNITED STATES
New ITC boutique launches in Virginia
Paul Bartkowski recently left Adduci Mastriani & Schaumberg to establish boutique law firm Bartkowski PLLC, focused on Section 337 litigation before the International Trade Commission. Bartkowski has nearly 15 years of experience in the area.
Haug Partners hires 2 new IP partners in New York
Haug Partners hired Sheila Mortazavi and Mark Chapman as partners in New York, both joining from Hunton Andrews Kurth. Mortazavi specializes in patent infringement litigation and contentious patent office proceedings. Chapman specializes in litigating patent cases, primarily for technology, automotive, aerospace and medical device clients.
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton expands its IP team in California
The national law firm hired former Morrison & Foerster litigation head Wesley Overson Jr as a partner. Overson advises a broad range of clients including database providers, surgical device makers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and consumer product manufacturers.
Orrick welcomes new IP partner in Washington, DC
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe hired transactions attorney David Schulman as a partner in its Washington, DC office. Prior to joining the firm, he was a partner at Dechert, where he previously led the firm’s life sciences industry group. Schulman focuses his practice on M&A, licensing and collaboration for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
Jenner & Block hires seasoned patent litigator
Jenner & Block welcomed Alexander Hadjis as a partner in its Washington, DC office. Hadjis specializes in patent cases in many industries, including semiconductors, telecommunications, medical devices, and software. Hadjis was previously previously a partner at Oblon McClelland Maier & Neustadt, and is currently ranked as a Patent Star.
Dechert strengthens IP practice with Finnegan hire
Dechert recentlyhired Howard Levine as partner in its Washington, DC office. Levine, who specializes in patent strategy and biotechnology and pharmaceutical litigation, joined the firm from Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner.
CANADA
Norton Rose hires IP partner
Norton Rose Fulbright hired Imran Ahmad as a partner based in the firm’s Toronto and Montréal locations. Ahmad now serves as Canadian head of the firm’s technology and innovation industry group and Canadian co-head of the firm’s data protection, privacy and cybersecurity practice. He was previously with Blake Cassels & Graydon.
Lenczner welcomes new partner
Canadian law firm Lenczner Slaght Royce Smith Griffin hired IP lawyer Andrew Moeser as a partner in its Toronto office. Moeser, who specializes in intellectual property litigation, joined from Gilbert’s.
Gowlings appoints new IP practice heads, partner
Gowling WLG has announced Laurent Massam as the new head of IP litigation and strategy in Canada, and Martha Savoy and John Coldham as the new leads of the firm’s global trademarks, brands & design group. Will Boyer was also appointed to partner, focusing mainly on patent litigation.
IP attorneys elevated to partner status at BCF
BCF has announced the nomination of new partners Amber Beckley and Oleksiy Malashenko. Beckley specializes in the drafting and prosecution of patent applications. Malashenko specializes in establishing and managing intellectual property protection of AI-powered products and services.
Faskens promotes multiple IP practitioners to partner
Fasken has promoted Amélie Béliveau, Christopher Ferguson, and Gabriel Stern to partner. Béliveau specializes in litigation relating to trademarks, copyrights, and defamation. Ferguson specializes in technology, privacy, and regulatory matters. Stern specializes in information technology law, assisting clients with licensing, e-commerce, and outsourcing transactions.
LATIN AMERICA
Ojam Bullrich Flanzbaum from Argentina strengthens its practice with the addition of Mariano Peruzzotti as partner
Ojam hired Mariano Peruzzotti as a partner in Argentina. Peruzotti advises companies within a wide range of industries in the design and development of local, regional, and international privacy compliance programs.
Cristián Barros of Sargent & Krahn in Chile promoted to partner
IP attorney Cristián Barros was recently promoted to partner. Barros focuses on patent and trademark law, with a specialty in the life sciences. He joined the firm in 2011.
Macarena Gatica of Alessandri Abogados in Chile appointed partner
Gatica focuses here practice on technology, data protection and cyber security, and leads the firm’s data protection and cyber security group. She has practiced with the firm since 2017.
More firm news and people moves
Read our previous roundups: Americas here, EMEA here, and Asia here.
