Most Highly Regarded Firms: Florida 2008 - Patents
Research for this chapter has identified eight leading practitioners in Florida from six different firms. A number of these lawyers practise at specialised firms.
Lott & Friedland PA is a Florida IP law firm that has represented Cartier, Mont Blanc, Royal Caribbean and Gibraltar Bank in IP-related matters. Leslie Lott was described as an “eminent attorney” who began her career with the US Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, DC. Lott is the past chair of the patent, trademark, copyright law committee of the Florida Bar and previously served on the board of directors of the International Trademark Association. David Friedland is the firm’s senior patent counsel and joins Lott in this chapter. Friedland has established a reputation in the area of business method patents and also has a computer/electrical engineering degree. Both individuals are also noted for their strong trademark work and are also included in our trademarks chapter as leaders in that field.
Feldman Gale PA is also in the strong position of featuring two practitioners in this chapter. James Gale has served as vice president and corporate counsel of a major medical device manufacturer and represents clients that include national and international high-tech companies in patent litigation. Gale was selected by the Florida Bar to serve as chair of the inaugural committee for IP law certification and is a known to his peers as a “great trial lawyer”. Another “star in the courtroom” is Jeffrey Feldman, a former assistant US attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Feldman litigates patent infringement cases and is a sought-after speaker on IP matters.
Rodman Steele from Akerman Senterfitt is “the dean of our patents bar” and “a long-time patent practitioner”. He is the most highly nominated individual in our research. Known for practising at the “top level”, Steele has a broad IP practice that is both national and international in scope. Donald Showalter from Gray Robinson is a “supremely capable” lawyer with a “fantastic” patent litigation practice. Showalter concentrates on high-tech industries and represents clients in the electrical, electronic, optical, computer and mechanical industries.
Herbert Allen is the founder of the “highly established IP boutique” Allen Dyer Doppelt Milbrath & Gilchrist PA. Allen has valuable in house experience, having served as patent counsel to the RCA Corp and for Sarnoff Research Laboratories. The firm has a “fantastic reputation in Orlando” and Allen litigates patent cases in a wide variety of highly technical areas such as computer systems and software, laser physics, medical devices and treatment systems. Douglas McDonald is the co-practice group leader of Carlton Fields PA’s IP & technology practice, praised by its competitors as a “strong and growing department”. McDonald represented a large manufacturer of electronic equipment in patent litigation matters, and trademark matters and on the strength of this multifaceted practice is also included in our trademarks chapter.