Most Highly Regarded Firms: Illinois 2008 - Patents
This chapter identifies 22 intellectual property professionals who are specialists in the area of patents. Of these 22 individuals, 12 hail from IP boutiques, demonstrating the strong hold that these specialised firms have on the market.
McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP is an IP boutique with three entries in this chapter. One source praised the firm as "large enough to provide the necessary firepower but sized to permit excellent person-to-person relationships". They are "players in the biotech arena" and can boast "talented attorneys throughout their demography". This trio of talent consists of founders Daniel Boehnen, Paul Berghoff and John McDonnell. Boehnen's clients include Whirlpool, Roche Diagnostics, Merck Serono International and Emerson Electric. Competitors have "only heard good things about" Boehnen, whose practice focuses on trials, appeals, opposition proceedings, and all forms of disputed patent matters. Berghoff has a respected patent practice that has seen him working on cases in many high-tech areas. He can also boast an active patent interference practice and has served as a neutral arbitrator in a number of major patent disputes. McDonnell was an assistant professor of chemistry at the Illinois Institute of Technology and is in possession of a "highly technical and brilliant mind". His practice focuses on biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, and he comes recommended as an expert in advising emerging high-technology companies and groups investing in such companies.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione PC is another "extremely highly regarded IP firm" that boasts three individuals in this chapter. Roy Hofer spends a great deal of time acting as a mediator, arbitrator or special master and rendering opinions on patent validity, infringement and litigation issues. Gary Ropski is "an extremely reputable individual" whose highlights include representing Alpine in Alpine Electronics v Honeywell International and Eaton Corporation v ZF Meritor, ArvinMeritor and ZF Friedrichshafen. Jerold Jacover also has an impressive background in litigation, having litigated cases for Abbott Laboratories, Coca-Cola and Motorola.
Sidley Austin LLP is one of the only full-service firm competing in terms of numbers with the specialised IP boutiques - three Sidley lawyers appear on the following pages. Hugh Abrams is a "very solid" practitioner with a focus on patent litigation. His peers noted his cross-border work, which is highlighted by time spent in Japan working on matters both for and against Japanese companies. Richard Cederoth has a BS in Electrical Engineering and has lectured on patent protection from the practising engineer's perspective. His practice has a focus on litigating patent matters in the software, computer and semiconductor fields. David Pritikin received praise from numerous sources who recommended him as "a very fine lawyer" and a "very able litigator, who does a fine job". They also noted his involvement in a number of big cases, for clients including Microsoft. Pritikin chairs the firm's national intellectual property practice and has worked on a significant number of Hatch-Waxman cases involving important pharmaceutical products.
McAndrews Held & Malloy offers full-service intellectual property and technology services to clients. Two of its founders feature prominently on the following pages. George McAndrews is a "dean of the Bar", according to a fellow nominee, and is one of the chapter's most nominated professionals. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering and is a seasoned litigator on cases involving mechanical, electrical and chemical subject matter. He is well known for handling high-profile, billion-dollar patent disputes. People also "hear a lot of good things" about Timothy Malloy. Malloy is also a founding partner of the firm and, like McAndrews, has some big-name clients. He has litigated cases on behalf of Ford Motor involving an electronic control for an intermittent windshield wiper; on behalf of cardiac pacemakers involving various electronic and mechanical patents for pacemakers and defibrillators; for General Foods involving air cushion bulkheads for railway cars, and on behalf of Baxter Corporation involving dialysis controls.
Niro Scavone Haller & Niro has two entries in this chapter, one of whom is among the most nominated practitioners in the research. Raymond Niro was described by one source as "a giant in the field" with a reputation as an "excellent trial lawyer". Between September 2006 and May 2007, he won three multi-million dollar jury verdicts for his clients in three different federal courts. "Well respected" Timothy Haller has a broad practice, litigating patent matters for both plaintiffs and defendants. Clients range from Fortune 500 corporations down to small privately held companies across a number of areas. Haller has a mechanical engineering degree.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP boasts two individuals in the following chapter. William Streff is a practice group leader of the firm's 200-member intellectual property department. Streff has a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and astronautical sciences and has taught IP courses at a number of leading law schools. Russell Levine is a "great lawyer" who received the ultimate compliment from a competitor, who "would not hesitate to hire him if I was a client". Levine has represented Fort James Corporation for a number of years on numerous matters and continues to represent Motorola in a variety of patent infringement matters. His practice focuses on patent infringement and disputes involving and relating to patent licence agreements.
Harry Roper is the chair of Jenner & Block LLP's intellectual property practice and comes highly recommended. Roper has been lead trial counsel in cases for the Dow Chemical Company, Johnson & Johnson and Phillips Petroleum Company and is a frequent speaker in the area. Kenneth Jurek from McDermott Will & Emery LLP is "top-drawer" in the opinion of one high-profile source. Jurek is a seasoned trial lawyer with expertise in varied patent infringement matters. He has recently been involved in matters pertaining to semiconductors, computer hardware and software.
David Witcoff coordinates the intellectual property practice in Jones Day's Chicago office and received endorsement from clients and peers alike. Representative clients include Freescale Semiconductor, IBM, Motorola, and Texas Instruments. Michael Warnecke from Perkins Coie LLP is another popular name, with a source praising him as "one of my favourite people in the Chicago Bar - he really knows his stuff". Representative clients include Caterpillar, Brunswick, MetLife and Mitsubishi.
IP firm Leydig, Voit & Mayer Ltd boasts an entry with strong international credentials - Michael Hartmann. Hartmann has directed legal proceedings in courts in England, Germany, and France, as well as before the European and Japanese patent offices, and is fluent in German. He has an engineering degree and has dealt with matters in diverse technical fields. McCracken & Frank LLP specialises in IP and partner Edward O'Toole makes the final cut. O'Toole is "active in the technology space" and has represented clients in cases relating to chemical, biochemical and mechanical subjects. He is a frequent speaker and writer on topics such as Markman hearings. Steptoe & Johnson LLP is home to the final entry in this chapter. Stanley Schlitter is regarded by his peers to be "very solid on the prosecution side" and like many of those mentioned previously is comfortable working on a variety of different technologies and industries.