Band 1: Intellectual Property
1 Jones Day Firm profile
The Firm: This firm is “in a class by itself as it stands head and shoulders above the competition.” Large IP litigation is the driver behind the practice and the group is renowned for being called in to work on “the highest of high-stake matters.” The practice is truly national and international in its scope with 280 IP practitioners worldwide, which is mirrored by its international clientele. Even with this impressive reach, the firm continues to build on its practice and is concentrating on expanding its offerings in more specialized areas. A number of attorneys specialize in handling appellant work in front of the federal circuit in patent litigation and the group is adding bodies to its international trade commission practice. Several lawyers offer expertise in specific technical and scientific fields including medical devices, semiconductors, computer software and hardware and automotive parts.
The Lawyers: Nationally acclaimed Ken Adamo is “at the pinnacle of the profession.” His practice focuses on IP litigation and he recently represented Yaskawa Electric in an ITC 337 investigation. Other work includes representing Genecor in patent infringement litigation. James Wamsley’s IP practice is heavily weighted on patent work. He spends the majority of his time working for Eastman Kodak, for which he has most recently been handling patent litigations against Sony. Regan Fay makes his debut in the table after being pinpointed as “a great litigator and mediator who provides great counsel.” One peer commented: “I would not hesitate in referring work to Fay. He has my complete confidence and approval.”
Clients/Work Highlights: Procter & Gamble; Texas Instruments; Danisco; Symbol Technologies; Johnson & Johnson and EMCORE.
Band 2: Intellectual Property
2 Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP Firm profile
The Firm: Offering the whole gamut of IP-related expertise, clients describe Calfee, Halter as “a real soup-to-nuts outfit that has the resources to handle anything that is thrown at it.” The firm’s IP practice has continued to garner increasing recognition as its client base has swelled over the past few years. The group has an active medical devices practice and counts Invacare, the largest medical equipment manufacture in the USA, among its clients. The team is representing Invacare in ongoing patent infringement litigation relating to sleep apnoea machines.
The Lawyers: With years of experience in the field, Charles Lyon is widely recognized for his skills in patent litigation, having forged an impressive career and reputation as “the kind of guy you go to for the knotty, complex cases.” Clients praised his forthright approach: “He doesn’t get distracted by shenanigans. He leaves no stone unturned and really gets to the heart of a matter.” As a protégé of Lyons, John Cipolla has been \"groomed for success” and earns a place in the table following extremely positive feedback. “Cipolla is clearly coming into his own as his profile continues to grow,” reported sources, and clients were quick to acknowledge “he has just the right balance between technical expertise and litigation skills to execute a case in the best possible manner.” Paul Szabo counsels clients in the mechanical, electromechanical and medical devices fields in regards to patents, trademarks and copyright matters.
Clients/Work Highlights: Fortune Brands; Master Lock; Swagelok Company; US Endoscopy Group; Datatrak International; Procter & Gamble; RPM International and Tomkins Industries.
2 Frost Brown Todd LLC Firm profile
The Firm: As a “quality firm that provides an excellent service,” it is not surprising that Frost Brown’s IP group received glowing feedback from its clients. The team handles its fair share of patent prosecution and litigation and has been undertaking a growing number of patent work in the biomedical field. Indeed, as many of its attorneys have scientific training, the group has proved to be “one of the first ports of call” for biological-related IP matters. The team is also expanding its computer-related IP work and clients in this area include Convergys and LexisNexis. The firm continues to nurture its trademark and copyright practice and has a core group of attorneys who concentrate solely on this area.
The Lawyers: Experienced trademark lawyer Joseph Dreitler “knows the law backwards, forwards and inside-out.” His workload of late has included handling WIPO domain name proceedings for clients such as Nationwide Insurance and Elizabeth Taylor Perfume. (Since publication, Joseph Dreitler has moved to Bricker & Eckler.) Practice chair Steven Goldstein is considered a force to be reckoned with. Praised for his intelligence, clients appreciate his extensive biotech background as he focuses predominantly on patent prosecution and counseling. He has been intimately involved with developing and executing the global patent strategy for a new product line for client Chiquita Brands International. David Schmit has established “quite a name for himself” over the course of his career. He has cultivated widespread support from his peers for his work “as opposing counsel - he’s always on fine form.” The \"genius” Stephen Albainy-Jenei is particularly well known for his biotech background and the experience that he has gained in the field. With a stellar background in chemistry, Karlyn Schnapp concentrates on patent prosecution in the chemical, biotech and pharmaceutical industries.
Clients/Work Highlights: University of Cincinnati; AK Steel; Battelle Memorial Institute; Medennium; Senco; Ethicon Endo-Surgery; Meridian Bioscience; Mylan Pharmaceuticals; Cincinnati Bell; Totes; Sun Chemical; Elizabeth Arden; Sunny D Beverages; Ohio State University; WILD Flavors; GE; Zappos and Rotary Lift.
2 Wood, Herron & Evans, LLP Firm profile
The Firm: Considered by many as “one of the last pure IP boutiques,” Wood, Herron has a long and well-established reputation in the area where it “continues to do well and prosper in a rapidly changing market.” The firm has an extraordinary depth in patent prosecution and “if there is challenging patent work to be done, it is an excellent choice,” report clients. All of the attorneys possess scientific and engineering backgrounds so the specialized technical expertise the team offers its clients is “second to none.” Such specialist areas include electronics, software, mechanical technology and biotechnology.
The Lawyers: David Brinkman spends the bulk of his time handling patent applications and prosecutions. With a firm grounding in electrical engineering, he is sought after for his expertise in electronic and mechanical fields. Seasoned practitioner Donald Frei is experienced in all realms of IP although he is best recognized for his exceptional skills as a trademark lawyer. Colleague Gregory Lunn is an expert in chemical patent prosecution and infringement evaluation. He divides his time between patent, trademark and copyright work. Beverly Lyman has an exemplary biochemical background and concentrates on biotechnology and chemical-related patent work.
Clients/Work Highlights: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital; Procter & Gamble; IBM; Sony and Givaudan Schweiz.
Band 3: Intellectual Property
3 Dinsmore & Shohl LLP Firm profile
The Firm: Primarily recognized for its “dynamite IP practice” in Cincinnati, Dinsmore & Shohl casts its net wider with IP practitioners in its Dayton and Lexington offices. Although the practice is focused in the Midwest, the group has cultivated relationships with out-of-state clients and has gained a degree of national recognition. While the team garners special praise for its trademark capabilities, as a full-service practice, lawyers also cover patent and copyright work.
The Lawyers: Patent expert Holly Kozlowski has a substantial client following and is widely admired for nurturing future legal talent: “Younger lawyers love working with her,” sources remarked. Lynda Roesch is valued as a “polished advocate” and handles trademark, copyright, trade secret and restrictive covenant litigation. She is widely credited as being the motor behind the firm’s trademark practice. Years of experience have contributed to Richard Killworth’s impressive reputation in IP law, where he has acquired a truly national stature. Armed with a strong background in chemical patent prosecution, he still does some litigation but is mainly active in patent prosecution and counseling, having appeared as a patent expert in a number of cases.
Clients/Work Highlights: Dow Corning; Procter & Gamble; Sovereign Bank; Standard Register and Battelle Memorial Institute.
3 Thompson Hine LLP Firm profile
The Firm: This “sophisticated” IP practice benefits from being part of a large, full-service firm and the resources that it can bring to bear serve to strengthen the group’s capabilities. The team handles patent preparation and prosecution, licensing and opinions for clients spread across a number of areas, including the mechanical, financial and medical device fields. In what has been a busy year, the group has been representing Goodyear in its possible sale of the company’s Engineered Products business. This includes a large portfolio of patents and trademarks as well as requiring trademark license and domain name agreements.
The Lawyers: Kenneth Germain has achieved “iconic status” in trademark circles and is one of the major driving forces behind Thompson Hine’s IP practice. “Remarkably good on his feet when it comes to trial work,” he also spends a considerable amount of time teaching and appearing as an expert witness. Mark Levy is admired for his business acumen as he has “smoothly integrated IP into the firm’s business strategy as a whole.” His practice encompasses a large amount of work for pharmaceutical companies and he recently represented Eurand in the negotiation and successful completion of a development and license agreement with GlaxoSmithKline.
Clients/Work Highlights: MeadWestvaco; Ethicon Endo-Surgery; Eurand; Illinois Tool Works; Delphi Technologies; LexisNexis; Lexmark International; KeyCorp; Jo-Ann Stores; Goodrich; Sun Microsystems; Solvay; Dayton Superior; Piedmont Healthcare and Arteriocyte.
Band 4: Intellectual Property
4 Fay Sharpe Fagan Minnich & McKee LLP Firm profile
The Firm: Despite the sad loss of Christopher Fagan, this specialist firm continues to be “a fine bastion of IP expertise.” As the largest IP boutique in the Cleveland area, Fay Sharpe enjoys a reputation for having a great depth of proficiency with the numbers to back it up. The firm’s reputation has spread across state boundaries and its lawyers are now engaged in IP work on a national basis. The team has garnered praise for its patent litigation credentials and sources site complex litigation as one of its fortes.
The Lawyers: Richard Klein’s practice covers patent, trademark and copyright matters. His background in chemistry serves him well to handle work within that field, as well as issues arising in the mechanical and biotech areas. Klein recently worked with Spalding on bringing out the new NBA basketball.
Clients/Work Highlights: Xerox; Lucient; GE Plastics; Callaway Golf and Evenflo.
4 Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC Firm profile
The Firm: This compact IP team has added to its ranks in the past year as its workload continues to grow. At present, the practice is slightly skewed towards trademark work, but the firm is looking to expand its patent capabilities. As the practice grows so does the team’s client list, and it has picked up a number of new clients, most notably in the publishing field, including F & W Publishing and Standard Publishing. Recent work has seen the team defending client Dawgs against a patent and ITC proceeding.
The Lawyers: Louis Ebling is well versed in all aspects of trademark law and is a recognized authority in the field, while Stephen Gillen “knows copyright law better than anyone out there.” Such expertise has resulted in Gillen being a referral favorite with many of his peers. Lori Krafte continues to carve out a profile for herself as one who “has a bright future in front of her.” Her practice includes a significant amount of Internet domain name work, particularly domain name dispute work, and she also handles IP matters relating to the publishing industry.
Clients/Work Highlights: The team has taken up a significant amount of trademark enforcement on behalf of Fruit of the Loom. Other clients include Poulsen Roser; Hill-Rom Services; Senco Products; Hillenbrand Industries and Bobrick Washroom Equipment.
4 Pearne & Gordon Firm profile
The Firm: With a long-standing history in the area, this Cleveland-based IP boutique makes its debut in the table following several recommendations from the market. The lawyers’ electrical, chemical and mechanical backgrounds and the technical strength and expertise afforded by such was cause for particular praise from sources. The group acts for companies and sole proprietors in all aspects of IP matters including patents, copyright and trademarks. Its attorneys also handle litigation in regard to infringements and validity of patents, and infringements of trademarks.
The Lawyers: Well respected throughout the state, managing partner Jeffrey Sopko has a practice with “international dimensions” that involves him in a significant amount of international patent work.
4 Renner Otto Boisselle & Sklar LLP Firm profile
The Firm: This specialist IP firm enters the table after a groundswell of positive feedback. Admired for its specialist expertise, the boutique practice is also reported to have the critical mass necessary to be considered a significant player in the field. Its attorneys hold engineering and scientific degrees, adding extra industry-specific depth to the firm’s practice, and the team counsels clients on all aspects of IP and related litigation.
The Lawyers: Managing partner Donald Otto has extensive experience in patent and trademark preparation and prosecution.
Clients/Work Highlights: The firm assists national and international corporations in the management of their IP portfolios.
4 Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell, & Tummino LLP Firm profile
The Firm: This boutique is acknowledged as “one of the best specialist teams in town.” It is best known for its work in the mechanical field and TRW Automotive is one of its big-name clients. The group’s attorneys also cover work in other areas including the chemical, electrical and biomedical industries. While the firm advises on trademark applications and infringements, patent prosecution remains the mainstay of the practice.
The Lawyers: Following the death of Charles Tarolli, the remaining founding partners continue to drive the practice forward.
Clients/Work Highlights: Texas Instruments, The Cleveland Clinic and Hewlett-Packard all feature on the firm’s client list.
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