WASHINGTON (January 7, 2013) — Law firm Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) has announced that eight attorneys have joined the Intellectual Property Practice in Washington, D.C. The group, comprised of three partners, three counsel and two associates, comes to SGR from the Washington, D.C. office of Murphy & King, P.C. Partner Edward A. Pennington will head the Firm’s Intellectual Property Litigation Practice.
The team focuses on patent litigation, patent licensing, due diligence associated with intellectual property transfers, and opinion work. The group’s expertise will add to the intellectual property services currently offered in the Washington, D.C. office.
“Ed Pennington is a marquis litigator and patent trial lawyer with a national practice,” said Stephen M. Forte, SGR’s Managing Partner. “He and his team, led by Stephanie Scruggs and Sid Pandit, comprise a highly regarded group of intellectual property lawyers with very deep experience.”
Mr. Pennington has practiced exclusively in the field of intellectual property for 30 years, representing both U.S. and foreign-based clients involved in various industries. He has been lead trial counsel resulting in jury trial wins in patent and trademark infringement cases throughout the U.S., with special emphasis in the Eastern District of Texas, all districts of California, Delaware, Virginia, Florida, New Jersey, and the International Trade Commission. He has also argued appeals at the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Fourth Circuit. Previously, Mr. Pennington worked at Bingham McCutchen LLP, having joined that firm when it combined with Swidler Berlin, where he founded the intellectual property practice group. Prior to that, he served as managing partner of Morgan & Finnegan’s Washington, D.C. office.
Ms. Scruggs’ focuses her practice on patent and trademark litigation, patent and trademark prosecution, and opinions relating to infringement, validity, and enforceability analyses. She also aids client in building, maintaining, and enforcing their intellectual property portfolios. Ms. Scruggs represents both U.S. and foreign-based clients in various industries including the chemical, biochemical, neutraceutical, electrical, and mechanical areas.
Mr. Pandit’s practice focuses on patent litigation, due diligence, opinion work, prosecution, and counseling, representing clients across a wide range of industries throughout the U.S., including the Eastern District of Texas, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the District of Delaware. He conducts IP due diligence and evaluates IP portfolios in various contexts, including for corporate mergers, acquisitions, and bankruptcies, where he has assessed patent and trademark portfolios and open-source copyright issues.
The five additional attorneys joining the Firm are:
Chadwick A. Jackson, Counsel, represents both foreign and domestic clients in patent and trademark prosecution, interferences, and reexaminations before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. A significant portion of Mr. Jackson’s practice is devoted to patent and trademark litigation in jurisdictions including the District of Delaware, District of Columbia, and Eastern District of Texas. Prior to joining Murphy & King, Mr. Jackson worked for Bingham McCutchen LLP, and before that was employed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a patent examiner.
John P. Moy, Counsel, focuses on patent litigation, pre-litigation counseling, and dispute resolution. He has considerable experience in all aspects of patent litigation, including trial experience, drafting appellate briefs, post-trial briefs, and dispositive motions, preparing Markman claim construction briefs, deposing key fact and expert witnesses, and handling day-to-day case management responsibilities. Mr. Moy was previously Special Counsel in the Intellectual Property Litigation and Patent Counseling & Prosecution practice groups at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP.
Michael A. Schwartz, Counsel, has practiced exclusively in the field of intellectual property for 16 years. While his practice focuses on patent prosecution in the areas of database software, telecommunications, and network hardware and software, Mr. Schwartz also has experience in the areas of patent litigation, patent licensing, due diligence associated with IP transfers, and infringement and validity opinions. He maintains a significant patent prosecution docket. Mr. Schwartz previously worked for Bingham McCutchen LLP, and was an engineer at Apple Computer for eight years prior to entering law school.
Jennifer L. Feldman, Associate, focuses on complex commercial litigation and intellectual property litigation. She has assisted foreign and domestic clients in commercial disputes and patent and trademark infringement litigation in the District of Columbia, Eastern District of Texas, District of New Jersey, and Southern District of Florida.
Sean T.C. Phelan, Associate, concentrates his practice in intellectual property litigation and trademark prosecution, and represents foreign and domestic clients in a variety of industries in worldwide trademark prosecution. Mr. Phelan has argued trademark appeals at both the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and has served as trial counsel in trademark litigation in the District of Maryland, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
Forte commented, “With the addition of these fine lawyers, SGR now has 30 dedicated intellectual property professionals covering the full spectrum of IP services and building on a recognized brand of our Firm.”