CHICAGO – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the United States, is pleased to announce that seven attorneys have been promoted to shareholders.
“We’re extremely pleased that these outstanding attorneys are now shareholders,” said Gary M. Ropski, president of Brinks. “Each of them has provided exceptional counsel and service to their clients and the firm. We look forward to great accomplishments and contributions from them.”
The following seven attorneys who were named shareholders effective Jan. 1, 2006 are:
Nicholas G. de la Torre focuses on all aspects of trademark and copyright litigation, prosecution and transactional work. He has experience with trademark, trade dress, copyright, unfair competition and false advertising litigation, experience representing clients in proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and experience in all aspects of U.S. and International trademark prosecution. He received his B.A. in Sociology from The Pennsylvania State University in 1996 and his J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 1999. Mr. de la Torre was a Summer Associate in 1998 and then joined Brinks in 1999, after finishing law school.
Margaret A. Dobrowitsky focuses her practice on drafting and negotiating domestic and international technology transfer agreements, joint venture agreements, asset purchase and supply agreements, engineering and software development agreements, information technology and telecommunications agreements, software license agreements, patent and know-how licenses, performing patent prosecution in the electrical and mechanical arts before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. She is experienced in both the automotive and medical device industries. She received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a B.S. in Computer Engineering, summa cum laude, from Wayne State University in 1986 and her J.D., magna cum laude, from the Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University in 1992. Prior to joining Brinks, Ms. Dobrowitsky was Senior Patent Counsel for a major U.S. corporation’s business operations, Intellectual Property Counsel for its Mergers and Acquisitions business group, Intellectual Property Counsel for its Information Technology and Telecommunications Group, Patent Counsel for its extensive Mexican operations and general legal support for its Mexican General Counsel.
Christopher M. Dolan focuses his practice trademark litigation, counseling and prosecution, false advertising, unfair competition, copyright law and patent litigation. He received his B.S. and his M.S. degrees in Political Science from Illinois State University in 1992 and in 1994, respectively, and his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School in 1999. During law school, Mr. Dolan was a Law Clerk for the City of Chicago, Mayor’s Office of Inter-Governmental Affairs. He was a Summer Associate at Brinks during the summer of 1998 and after finishing law school, joined Brinks in 1999.
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January 17, 2006
Sanders N. Hillis focuses his practice in the preparation and prosecution of patent and trademark matters in such technologically-diverse areas as computer software, wireless and wireline telephony, wireless communication technologies, business methods, speech coding, semiconductor operation and manufacture, power system monitoring and management, digital communication technologies, automotive systems, radio frequency applications and audio amplifiers. Mr. Hillis has considerable experience with the Patent Cooperation Treaty, foreign country prosecution of patent applications and appeals to the U.S. Board of Patent Appeals. He received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering, cum laude, from Ohio University in 1987 and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Indiana University School of Law in 1999. Prior to joining Brinks, Mr. Hillis, a Registered Professional Engineer in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio, was a senior electrical engineer for Cinergy Corporation, worked as an engineer for ABB Impell Corporation and for ABB Process Automation. He joined Brinks as an Associate in 1999.
Charles M. McMahon counsels clients and litigates on their behalf in the areas of patent, trademark, copyright and unfair competition law. He has represented domestic and international clients in federal courts and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the International Trade Commission, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Mr. McMahon’s work has involved a variety of technical areas, including truck transmission systems, wireless communications, solid-state electronics, encryption systems, digital imaging systems, electronic measurement devices, software applications and online business-to-business exchange systems. He received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1996 and his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School in 1999. Prior to joining Brinks, Mr. McMahon was a Judicial Intern for the Hon. Randall R. Rader, U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit.
Amir N. Penn focuses his practice on procuring IP rights in the fields of semiconductors, nanotechnology, software related technology, medical devices and telecommunications and on managing patent portfolios including the preparation, prosecution and supervision of patent applications from filing to issuance. He received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from The University of Cincinnati in 1990, his M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1991 and his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in 1994. Prior to joining Brinks as Counsel in 2003, Mr. Penn was a partner at McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff, an associate at Leydig Voit & Mayer and worked at I.B.M. T.J. Watson Research Center and Comsat Laboratories.
Scott J. Slavick focuses his practice on trademark prosecution and litigation and Internet, trade secret, copyright and trade dress law. He maintains large corporate clients’ trademark portfolios and his experience includes drafting trademark licensing agreements, office action responses, trademark applications, trademark opinion letters, briefs, motions, settlement agreements, consent agreements, copyright applications, confidentiality agreements and restrictive covenants. He received his B.A., in History from Northwestern University in 1995 and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1998. Mr. Slavick joined Brinks as an associate in 1998.
The firm also announced its newly-named Board of Directors. The 2006 Board members are:
Glen P. Belvis focuses his practice on all facets of intellectual property law, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and related antitrust matters. He has substantial patent litigation experience, including bench and jury trials, appeals before the Federal Circuit, and alternate dispute resolutions, and has participated in several multinational litigations involving related patent lawsuits in the U.K., Europe, Asia, Canada and the United States. He has testified as an expert witness on patent and trade secret matters and lectured on patent and antitrust matters at Oxford University and has experience in patent prosecution, interferences, and proceedings before the PTO board of appeals. Mr. Belvis’ experience encompasses a wide range of technologies including medical devices, bio-tech, software, Internet, lasers, paper, polymers, heavy equipment and pharmaceuticals. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from University of Notre Dame and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
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Brinks New Shareholders/Board of Directors
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January 17, 2006
Jeffery M. Duncan focuses his practice on counseling and preparing opinions in patent, trade secret and licensing matters; evaluating, negotiating and drafting technology transfer and joint venture agreements; performing intellectual property evaluations, audits and due diligence reviews; litigating patent and trade secrets cases; and preparing and prosecuting patent applications in the U.S. and abroad. His practice is concentrated on the following technologies: pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, diagnostics and chemistry. He received his B.S. degree in Chemistry from Brigham Young University and his J.D. from The J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University.
Ralph J. Gabric focuses his practice in patent, trade secrets, copyright, trademark and unfair competition litigation, counseling and prosecution. Technical areas in which Mr. Gabric has represented clients include medical devices, electronic trading systems, computers, analytical instrumentation and various technologies in the chemical and food arts. He has lectured on the subject of patent litigation and patent licensing and written about trade dress protection and dispute resolution. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from Boston College and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
John T. Gabrielides focuses his practice on all aspects of trademark, unfair competition, false advertising and copyright law, including litigation before federal courts and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He also has experience in counseling, licensing and litigation relating to patents. He received his B.A. in Economics from the University of Illinois and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
Gary M. Ropski has practiced intellectual property law exclusively since joining Brinks Hofer in 1976. His practice now focuses on litigation, but has included patent prosecution and litigation, trademark prosecution, including oppositions, and litigation, trade dress litigation, copyright registration and litigation, trade secret litigation, right of publicity counseling and litigation and related unfair competition and antitrust matters in federal and state courts. He has extensive experience in presenting and rebutting damage claims in intellectual property litigation. He received his B.S. in Physics from Carnegie-Mellon University and his J.D., cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law. Mr. Ropski was recently named President of the firm.
Steven P. Shurtz focuses his practice in U.S. patent application preparation and prosecution, foreign patent prosecution, patent opinion and counseling. He is experienced in supervising patent procurement activities, including foreign patent strategies, oppositions and the use of the Patent Cooperation Treaty and regional patent offices, as well as preparing and prosecuting patent applications on individual chemical and mechanical inventions, including appeals to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences. He also has experience in patent infringement/validity and right to use opinions and license agreements; trade secrets audits, analysis and agreements; and training seminars for client employees. He received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering, magna cum laude, from the University of Utah and his J.D., Order of the Coif, from University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law.
Jason C. White focuses his practice primarily on patent litigation matters. He also has experience in drafting and prosecuting U.S. and foreign patent applications in computer, electronics, and telecommunications arts, preparing invalidity and non-infringement opinions, drafting patent and trademark license agreements, and counseling clients regarding obtaining and enforcing intellectual property rights. He received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Marquette University and his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Dayton School of Law.
Founded in 1917, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is based in Chicago with three other offices across the country and serves the intellectual property needs of clients from around the world. The firm is one of the largest IP law firms in the country, with more than 150 attorneys, scientific advisors and patent agents who specialize in all aspects of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and unfair competition, licensing agreements, technology, nanotechnology and bio-pharma work, intellectual asset management and intellectual property litigation. Visit the firm online at www.usebrinks.com.
