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Lovells launches US patent litigation practice with second partner hire in the life sciences sector

18 October 2007

NEW TEAM BOOSTS GLOBAL IP AND LIFE SCIENCES CAPABILITY

David Leichtman is to join the Lovells New York office from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. His arrival at the firm follows the recent recruitment of patent litigation partner Veronica Mullally from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe.  The firm has also recruited a supporting team including an Of Counsel, a number of associates and a scientific adviser with further recruitment planned over the coming months.   The new team is supported by Lovells' general commercial litigation practice in the US numbering close to 50 lawyers, plus members of the worldwide life sciences and IP groups.  David is Lovells' 22nd lateral hire this year.


David was formerly a partner at Morgan Lewis where he practised for 11 years.  His practice focuses on patent litigation in the life sciences sector.  Lovells has a leading life sciences group supported by the firm's Science Unit, a team of trained scientists who provide specialist advice to lawyers across the firm. David has substantial experience in Hatch-Waxman pharmaceutical patent litigation against generic drug manufacturers as well in as a wide range of other technologies.   He has also built a general commercial litigation practice advising companies in the media and information services industry. 

Commenting today, Lovells' managing partner David Harris said: 

"IP, especially in the life sciences sector, is recognised worldwide as a significant growth area with enormous potential for high stakes, high profile litigation.  The launch of our US IP practice will complement our outstanding international capability and give increased impetus to the growth of our practice in the US."

Burkhart Goebel, head of Lovells' IP practice, added:  

"Lovells is already recognised as having one of the biggest and best global IP practices.  We are delighted to be able to announce the launch of our US patent litigation practice to service our international client base in Asia and Europe and develop our domestic work.  David and Veronica have exactly the right combination of complex IP litigation experience and personal qualities to help drive the practice forward."
 
David Leichtman said:

"I am excited to be joining a firm with such strong international capability in IP and life sciences offering an excellent platform from which to launch our US presence."

Notes for editor

1. Partner Veronica Mullally joined Lovells in July.   Veronica is a patent litigation specialist who also has substantial experience in litigating Hatch-Waxman cases.  She is a registered patent attorney with considerable experience in trying cases involving pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and medical devices.  Veronica trained as a biochemist and worked in academic research and in industry before attending law school.  Veronica was formerly a partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe where she practised for seven years.

2. Lovells is internationally recognised as having a leading Intellectual Property practice and has won several major awards in the last year, including No 1 in the Global Intellectual Property Super League 2006 (Practical Law Company), Leading Multi-Jurisdiction IP Firm in Europe 2006 (Managing Intellectual Property) and Best Achievement in IP Enforcement in Europe 2006 (World leaders).  The firm has also just been shortlisted by Chambers for Global IP Law Firm of the Year.

3. The Intellectual Property, Technology and Media practice group comprises just under 50 partners and over 260 legal staff. Lovells’ Life Sciences practice was ranked as market leading (6th world-wide, up from 7th last year) in the Life Sciences Superleague (Practical Law Company).

4. Partner hires and promotions in 2007

David Leichtman is Lovells' 22nd partner hire this year. Other partners recruited include: 

  • Rahail Ali (Islamic Finance), Imtiaz Shah (Corporate and Capital Markets) and Rustum Shah (Banking and Finance) in Dubai
  • Shelley Mottershead (Banking and Finance), James McDonald (Corporate Real Estate) and Christopher Norton (Corporate) in London
  • Pascal de Moidrey (Corporate M&A/Private Equity) in Paris
  • Jürgen Witte (Dispute Resolution) and Franz Joseph Schone (Corporate) in Düsseldorf
  • Victor De Vlaam (Corporate M&A/Private Equity) in Amsterdam
  • Mark Halligan (Dispute Resolution) and William Kane (Dispute Resolution) in Chicago
  • Paolo Tanoni (Corporate M&A) and Gianluca Belotti (Corporate) in Italy
  • Joaquín Ruiz Echauri (Dispute Resolution) and Hermenegildo Altozano (Energy) in Madrid
  • Dominic Pellew (Dispute Resolution) in Moscow 
  • Dr Karsten Müller-Eising (Corporate Finance) in Frankfurt
  • Christopher Donoho (Business Restructuring and Insolvency), Robin Keller (Business Restructuring and Insolvency) and Veronica Mullally (Intellectual Property) in New York

Lovells also elected a record 31 new partners with effect from 1 May 2007. 5. 

About Lovells

With over 3,000 people operating from 26 offices in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States, Lovells is one of the world's leading international law firms. We advise many of the world's largest corporations, financial institutions and governmental organisations. We regularly act on complex, multi jurisdictional transactions as well as some of the most high profile commercial disputes.

Lovells is the only London-based firm with offices in both New York and Chicago.  The firm offers high-level legal services in the US in litigation & arbitration, insurance & reinsurance (corporate and dispute resolution), capital markets, banking & finance, tax, trade secrets and business restructuring & insolvency.  Lovells (the "firm") is an international legal practice comprising Lovells LLP and its affiliated businesses. Lovells LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC323639. Registered office and principal place of business: Atlantic House, Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2FG.
 
The word "partner" is used to refer to a member of Lovells LLP, or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualifications, and to a partner, member, employee or consultant in any of its affiliated businesses who has equivalent standing.
 
www.lovells.com