Kirkland & Ellis LLP Expands Copyright and Trademark Practice with Three New Partners

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is pleased to announce that Dale Cendali, Claudia Ray and Diana Torres will join the Firm as partners in the Intellectual Property Practice Group, effective March 9. Ms. Cendali and Ms. Ray will join Kirkland's New York office, and Ms. Torres will join Kirkland's Los Angeles office.

"We are very pleased to welcome Dale, Claudia and Diana to our Firm," said Thomas D. Yannucci, chair of Kirkland's Firmwide Management Committee and partner in the Washington, D.C., office. "These three talented lawyers bring a wealth of experience in the trademark and copyright areas, a segment of our IP practice that we are actively expanding to complement our premier patent litigation practice."

Ms. Cendali is a nationally recognized leader in intellectual property litigation who has been described by Chambers & Partners as "one of the best lawyers in the country" and a "superb litigator" who "thinks quickly on her feet and vigorously defends her clients." The National Law Journal named her as one of "America's Top 50 Women Litigators" and also as one of the "50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America." IP Law & Business recognized her as one of the "Magnificent Seven - IP's Best Young Trial Lawyers."

Throughout her distinguished career, Ms. Cendali has successfully represented clients such as Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., Twentieth Century Fox and Victoria's Secret in a variety of areas in numerous high-profile cases including arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court. Before joining Kirkland, Ms. Cendali served as the chair of O'Melveny & Myers' New York Intellectual Property and Technology Practice, and as firmwide chair of the Copyright, Trademark and Internet Subpractice. Her practice encompasses copyright, trademark, patent and trade secrets law, as well as defamation, the right of publicity, false advertising, privacy, complex contract disputes and similar areas, including Internet issues.

"It was very difficult for us to decide to leave our partners and friends at O'Melveny," said Ms. Cendali. "But the chance to combine our copyright, trademark and Internet practice with Kirkland's globally recognized patent and technology practice was an opportunity that we could not pass up."

"Dale, Claudia and Diana will be instrumental in developing the trademark and copyright side of our IP practice," said John Desmarais, a partner in Kirkland's New York Intellectual Property Practice Group. "Combining their copyright and trademark experience with our preeminent patent and technology practice will allow us to offer our clients a one-stop shop for their intellectual property litigation needs."

Prior to joining Kirkland, Ms. Ray was a partner in O'Melveny & Myers' New York office. Her practice focuses on copyright, trademark and Internet-related litigation and counseling on behalf of clients in the entertainment and media, financial services, technology and consumer product areas. She also advises clients on issues in complex transactional matters across a broad range of industries. In Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2008, clients described her as rapidly making a name for herself as an "outstanding courtroom performer."

Ms. Torres will join the Firm from the Los Angeles office of O'Melveny & Myers, where she was a partner. She focuses on copyright, trademark, false advertising, trade secrets and Internet law, including representations of major Internet service providers, consumer electronics manufacturers, financial institutions, and clients in the fashion, film and music industries. Her litigation practice also includes high-stakes commercial matters and internal investigations representing major corporations. In the 2008 U.S. Legal 500, Ms. Torres was recognized for excellence in copyright litigation. Legal 500 noted that her "clients are impressed," calling her "sharp and hardworking."

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is a 1,500-attorney law firm representing global clients in complex intellectual property and technology, litigation and dispute resolution/arbitration, corporate and tax, restructuring and real estate matters. The Firm has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Munich, Palo Alto, Calif., San Francisco and Washington, D.C.