Long-time supervisory patent examiner Robin Evans will manage the
USPTO's first satellite patent office: the Elijah J McCoy office in
Detroit, Michigan, which opened on July 13. The 25 examiners and 11
administrative law judges who started July 16, however, will be trained
remotely by supervisors in Alexandria and will report to commissioner
for patents Peggy Focarino and director David Kappos. The office is
expected to spur local job growth and is the first step in a larger
expansion of the Office. Managing IP's September issue will report from
the new Detroit office.
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AMERICAS
Texas firm Jackson Walker will open a Texarkana office to be led by David Folsom, former chief judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
Crowell & Moring has recruited John Fuson, former chief counsel at the US Food and Drug Administration, as a partner in its Washington, DC office.
McKool Smith has grown its IP litigation practice with the addition of veteran ITC trial lawyer Kent Stevens.
IP boutique Wolf Greenfield & Sacks has boosted its litigation
group with the addition of three new patent litigators, including Gregory Corbett, who was previously a partner in the Washington, DC office of Kirkland & Ellis and joins the firm as a shareholder.
Leason Ellis has increased its patent team with the addition of Joel Felber, from Ostrolenk Faber's New York office.
IP partner Rich Kim has joined the San Diego office of Duane Morris from Morrison Foerster.
Fish & Richardson has named Steven McCracken, the former senior
executive vice president and chief administrative officer of San
Diego-based Callaway Golf, as of counsel.
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has hired IP partner Yury Kapgan from Latham & Watkins.
IP boutique McAndrews Held & Malloy has boosted its practice with the addition of a partner and a patent agent. Christopher Singer joined the firm as a partner, and Timothy Long joined as a patent agent.
Judge Arthur Gajarsa has resigned his commission as a member of the
US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Gajarsa assumed senior
status in July 2011 and is succeeded by Judge Evan Wallach.
ASIA
Herbert Smith and Freehills have agreed to a full equity merger.
The new firm, Herbert Smith Freehills, will have 2,800 lawyers and
launch on October 1. The IP department will have 19 partners, led by Mark Shillito at Herbert Smith and Sue Gilchrist at Freehills.
Brinton M Scott has joined Winston & Strawn as a partner in the
Shanghai office. Scott's practice focuses on corporate law,
intellectual property and employment law. Previously he was a partner at
Clyde & Co.
Ameet Datta has joined Saikrishna & Associates as a partner.
Datta's practice will focus on media and entertainment, and technology.
Prior to joining Saikrishna, Datta was a partner at Luthra & Luthra.
Michael Shu has joined Wan Hui Da as a senior IP partner. He will
supervise the legal department as well as the business development
operations in the firm's Shanghai office. Shu was previously general
counsel for adidas in China. Before that, he was responsible for setting
up Gillette China's legal office.
EUROPE
HGF Law, sister law firm of patent attorneys Harrison Goddard
Foote, has hired partner Alice Gould from Wedlake Bell. Gould, an IP
practitioner since 1991, works across patents, trade marks and
copyright, and joins HGF Law's London office. She will become its
seventh partner, after Michael Varvill joined the firm from Bird &
Bird last year.