Industry moves and mergers

Christina Martini, formerly chair of DLA Piper’s Chicago IP practice, has joined McDermott Will & Emery. Ms Martini has extensive experience in counselling, prosecution, enforcement, due diligence and licensing matters in relation to intellectual property across a wide variety of business sectors, including the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. She was recently named by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of Chicago’s Most Influential Minority Lawyers.

Novagraaf has announced that Philip Harris has joined its UK operations as managing director – trademarks. A chartered trademark attorney and solicitor advocate, who has also previously practised as an IP barrister, Mr Harris boasts more than 35 years’ experience in all aspects of IP law. He now leads Novagraaf’s trademark business in the United Kingdom, working from its London, Manchester and Norwich offices.

Chicago-based boutique Rosenbaum IP has added Jason K Schmitz as a shareholder and chair of its IP transactions and global brand management practice groups. Mr Schmitz assists clients in managing a wide variety of commercial IP and IT transactions and agreements. He also partners with trademark clients on US and global brand management.

A group led by Mark Peroff and Darren Saunders – IP attorneys with a large global practice – has formed Peroff Saunders PC, with offices in New York, New Jersey and Chicago. Mr Peroff was previously managing partner of the New York office of Wilson Keadjian Browndorf (WKB), while Mr Saunders was a WKB partner. They are also being joined by other lawyers from WKB.

Holland & Hart has added trademark and patent lawyer Loren Hulse to its Salt Lake City office. Mr Hulse specialises in the creation, management and protection of both domestic and foreign IP portfolios and boasts particular expertise in the chemical and life sciences spaces, having previously served as in-house IP counsel for NPS Pharmaceuticals and as patent counsel for Ceramatec, Inc.

Arizona-based law firm Jaburg Wilk has announced the hiring of three new attorneys, including IP attorney Michael Dvoren. With nine years’ experience, Mr Dvoren is an active INTA member and primarily represents clients in the areas of intellectual property, internet law, entertainment law and commercial litigation.

Barnes & Thornburg has hired Matthew E Leno, Peter M Siavelis and Matthew J Gryzlo as partners in its IP department. Mr Siavelis (who focuses his practice on US and foreign patent and trademark litigation, counselling and portfolio development) and Mr Gryzlo (who advises on domestic and international patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, unfair competition and other related causes) will reside in the Chicago office. While Mr Leno (who concentrates his practice on IP litigation, including patent, trademark and trade secret matters) will be based out of the firm’s Washington DC office.

Goodwin Procter is hiring a four-person IP team from Greenberg Traurig – Mark Davis, PJ McCarthy, Ronald Pabis and Stephen Shahida, who have all joined the firm as partners in its Washington DC office. The four will focus their efforts on IP litigation in the technology sector.

Eric Hagen has joined DLA Piper’s IP and technology practice as a partner in Los Angeles. Mr Hagen represents companies in complex commercial disputes involving patents, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, unfair competition claims and related matters.

Martin Hyden, who boasts more than 30 years’ experience as a patent and trademark attorney, has joined Wynne-Jones IP. He will be based in the firm’s UK head office in Cheltenham.

Paul Hastings LLP has added a three-member team, spanning three offices, to its IP practice. Robert Laurenzi joins as of counsel in New York, Michelle Marek Figueiredo joins as a senior associate in Chicago and Marisa Williams joins as a senior associate in San Francisco. The trio were previously with Arnold & Porter.