The Patent 1000 focuses exclusively on patent practice and has firmly established itself as the definitive 'go-to' resource for those seeking world-class legal patent expertise.
Gold - Firms
Known for providing services of “exceptionally high quality”, Alston & Bird is a smart choice for companies seeking all manner of IP services, with attorneys adept in a wide array of technologies. Offering litigation services from its Charlotte outpost is a team of skilful trial attorneys, including Michael Connor, who is experienced in multiple arenas from district courts to the ITC. He is currently representing electronics company Dell in a patent infringement action. Other names on the roster are Scott Stevens, an authority in Section 337 cases, and Benjamin Pleune, who boasts extensive experience before the PTAB. The pair recently teamed up to successfully represent consumer products companies Resideo Technologies and Itron in a four-patent case. Firm lead in pre-grant and post-grant patent practice areas Christopher Douglas is warmly praised by clients as “professional, diligent and easy to communicate with”. Lauded for his ability to work well with inventors and engineers, Dane Baltich is proficient in handling large international and domestic portfolios for his patrons, such as the University of Florida, whose patents extend across a number of technologies, including artificial intelligence. With a niche in electrical, computer and software technology cultivated over two decades in the field, Guy Gosnell is well placed to handle patent prosecution and preparation for GPS navigation company HERE Technologies and telecommunications giant Nokia. Bryan Skelton’s pharmaceutical expertise makes him a smart choice for Exela Pharma Sciences, as he prosecutes some of their most important patents. Also offering masterful portfolio management for global companies, Brian Ellsworth numbers insurance company Assurant among his clientele, for whom he has prosecuted hundreds of patents.
Bronze - Firms: litigation
A recognised name internationally across a range of practice areas, Alston & Bird’s reputation extends to its skilled team of IP professionals located in the United States and elsewhere. Upholding its name in New York is the co-head of the IP litigation practice, Natalie Clayton, whose prowess in the life sciences space has proved to be invaluable to clients defending and enforcing patents across the pharmaceutical, medical device and animal health sectors, among others.
Highly-recommended - Firms: prosecution
Gold - Firms: litigation
Known for its “spirit of exceptional excellence” in the IP world, national firm Alston & Bird hosts an offering of highly skilled patent professionals who play a vital role in protecting and managing major companies’ IP assets. The Atlanta office is home to an impressive team of litigators with a diverse skill set, with co-leader of the IP litigation practice John Haynes leading the charge. Revered by peers as a “terrific” attorney, Haynes’s recent work includes a complete defence victory for Nokia, Verizon, Ericsson and AT&T, alongside IAM Patent 1000 newcomer David Frist, in a multi-patent dispute. Frist’s product engineering experience at a technology company equips him with precious insight to understand his patrons’ businesses and innovations. Also possessing a niche is Matthew Howell, whose litigation practice focuses on cases in the pharmaceutical and vaccine realm, while fellow trial attorneys Keith Broyles and Robert Lee offer a broad range of expertise, with Broyles boasting experience at both federal and ITC level, and Lee being a go-to for both traditional and online retailers looking to protect their patents. On the prosecution side, legal thought leader David Teske looks to maximise and monetise his clients’ patent portfolios through prosecution and transactional methods. Chris Lightner and Jason Cooper team up to counsel consumer goods company Koch Industries on its patent portfolio, with Lightner offering mechanical engineering industry expertise and Cooper thinking of “creative ways to strengthen patent claims and resulting portfolios”.
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