The World's Leading Lawyers for Business 2009: Intellectual Property

On an annual basis, Chambers & Partners conducts extensive research and thorough data analysis in compiling its objective list of 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' 2009 review of international legal talent in the area of Intellectual Property, our Firm is listed among the best in the world.

Chambers' comments:

USA Ranking: Tier 1

Lawyers here have a "tremendous ability to work seamlessly across offices" which attracts clients seeking advice and representation in complex, multistate and multi-jurisdictional matters. The New York and Chicago offices attract the most client praise, although the Washington, DC office is growing substantially in prestige, housing 15 attorneys undertaking a range of patent, trade mark and false advertising disputes. Recent victories for the New York team include a win for Alcatel-Lucent against Microsoft — securing USD511.6 million in damages and interest for the infringement of patents — and a patent litigation case for American Express in which EPC brought an infringement suit against all prepaid card issuers; this victory also benefited co-defendants Visa and Mastercard. A string of impressive performances in IP disputes over the past year for clients such as Biedermann Motech, AMF Bowling Worldwide and Third Wave Technologies have led commentators to remark: "If you're up against them, you know you're in for a good battle." Interviewees heartily endorse John Desmarais as "undisputedly a force in patent cases, with a masterful courtroom demeanour and impressive strategic skills." In April 2008 he and his team obtained a significant summary judgment for GlaxoSmithKline, overruling the US Patent and Trademark Office's decision to introduce controversial new rules governing patent prosecution. Co-head of the IP group Robert Krupka is one of the country's most influential trial lawyers, and is revered as a "national treasure." With over 60 trials and appeals under his belt, Krupka has extensive experience of contentious IP matters — particularly in the technology sector — and is able to "watch the detail while still maintaining a focus on the big picture."

Reprinted with permission from Chambers Global, The World's Leading Lawyers for Business 2009 - www.chambersandpartners.com.