The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2007: Intellectual Property
On an annual basis, Chambers & Partners conducts extensive research and thorough data analysis in compiling its objective list of legal talent available at the highest level of international legal practice. Its research methodology has been independently audited and confirmed to be thorough, robust and complete.
In Chambers' 2007 review of international legal talent in the area of Intellectual Property, our Firm is listed among the best in the world.
Chambers' comments:
Intellectual Property
USA Ranking: 1
The Firm: This team of 240 lawyers firmwide is "at the top of the intellectual property tree" and has attracted a sizeable share of the market. It is well known for patent litigation and trade mark work, where it acts for a number of clients in the electronics and pharmaceuticals area. Recently, its lawyers won a summary judgment for Infineon Technologies against MOSAID Technologies, declaring that their client had not infringed MOSAID's patents. Other major work includes the successful defence of Osram Sylvania in a patent infringement case. The firm attracts both able young associates and high-profile work with a "nucleus of talented litigators". Clients keep returning to the firm as a result of its customer-focused service and competitive billing rates.
The Lawyers: Bob Krupka has met with "tremendous success" according to interviewees. He is credited with a "highly client-oriented" approach that is deemed "second to none." Krupka was repeatedly labeled as being "among the best patent litigators in America," and he has a wealth of experience of appearing in courts across the country, including the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Rivals expect this "first rate" attorney to taste success yet again as partner of choice for such clients as Apple, ConocoPhillips and Boston Scientific in a number of pending cases. Recently he settled a patent infringement case on behalf of Dr Gary Michelson for USD1.35 billion, the fourth-largest verdict of its kind in the field of IP litigation. Clients say John Desmarais "somehow manages to win cases he might not at first seem to deserve to." He is perceived as "a natural performer in court, and intelligent and incisive in manner." Special praise was reserved for Desmarais' patent litigation skills. He recently represented Boston Scientific in its attempts to countersue Johnson & Johnson over coronary stent technology.
Clients/Work Highlights: Hermes International; Honeywell Aerospace; Siemens; Boston Scientific; Infineon Technologies; Lucent Technologies; Forest Labs and Schering-Plough.
TMT: Outsourcing
USA Ranking: 2
The Firm: Kirkland & Ellis has a solid institutional client base and a wealth of experience in the M&A market. Its ITO advice is particularly sought after. On the customer side, clients include financial services institutions and manufacturers, while vendor clients include an IT consulting company, a Big Four accounting firm, a supply chain management software company and a global real estate services organisation. Lawyers here recently acted on the joint venture between AMF and Qubica, helping to merge multiple hi-tech product lines. According to one client, "this is a top-notch firm with an excellent national reputation for strategic alliances and outsourcing in the technology field."
The Lawyers: Chicago-based Gregg Kirchhoefer "has been around forever" in the outsourcing field, according to peers. Head of the firm's IP and technology practice group, he is a "smart thinker who is always up-to-speed on changes," and his recent work includes a broad-based outsourcing initiative for a financial services company. Kirchhoefer also recently acted for a manufacturing client in an ITO involving a variety of support functions, including the establishment of a new ERP system.
Clients/Work Highlights: Accenture; Affiliated Computer Services; Hewitt Associates; Morgan Stanley; News Corporation; PwC; Sun Microsystems; USG; Vertex Outsourcing and WW Grainger.
Reprinted with permission from Chambers Global, The World's Leading Lawyers for Business 2007 - www.chambersandpartners.com.
