McAndrews, Held & Malloy Announces New Board Member, Three New Partners
06.08.17
Firm also hires new associate with prior experience in technology and IP-focused industries
CHICAGO, IL – June 7, 2017 – McAndrews, Held & Malloy, Ltd., announced today the appointment of a partner to the firm’s board of directors, as well as the promotions of three associates to partners.
The new board member is:
Kathleen A. Meyer, who focuses her practice on corporate intellectual property strategy, including competitive IP analysis, product clearance, licensing, and patent and trademark prosecution. Meyer is also experienced with patent litigation and has represented clients through pre-suit investigations, fact and expert discovery, Markman hearings, summary judgment, and pre-trial preparation. She has also represented clients in numerous appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Meyer practices in a wide variety of technology areas, including nutritional products, medical devices, and chemical processes. Before joining McAndrews, Meyer worked in a neurobiology laboratory at Northwestern University. The new partners are:
Chad A. Pahnke, an experienced patent prosecutor who has written and prosecuted hundreds of U.S. and foreign patents. He focuses his practice on helping clients maximize the value of their patent portfolio by identifying and applying prosecution strategies to achieve underlying business goals. Pahnke has prosecuted applications in technical fields that include communications networks, consumer electronics, analog and digital circuits, audio/video processing, software security, printing technology, and other electrical, software, mechanical, and business-related fields.
George Wu, Ph.D., is well-versed in all areas of intellectual property law, with particular emphasis on biomedical-related subject matters. Wu counsels clients in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries regarding patent applications/prosecutions, and trademark and copyright registrations. In addition, he represents clients in inter partes reviews at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, Section 337 actions before the International Trade Commission, and intellectual property litigations at the federal district courts. Wu is fluent in Chinese and represents clients that conduct business primarily in Asia, as well as Asian clients looking to do business in the United States.
Michael S. Tomsa, who focuses on intellectual property disputes in the areas of wireless communications, software, electrical devices, and consumer products. He has practiced before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, U.S. district courts, and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Tomsa has extensive experience in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office procedures including ex parte and inter partes reexaminations, as well as inter partes review proceedings under the America Invents Act.
“Our firm has always sought to recruit and retain the most exceptional IP and tech attorneys in the legal world, and we’re committed to Katie, Chad, George, and Michael’s success as they continue to serve as trusted business advisors to our clients in all areas of intellectual property law,” said Robert Surrette, shareholder and president at McAndrews.
In addition, Philipp Ruben joined McAndrews as an associate. Ruben focuses on intellectual property litigation and prosecution, and has experience in the protection and enforcement of design rights. He graduated summa cum laude from DePaul University College of Law, where he was the President of the Intellectual Property Law Society, an active member of the Appellate Moot Court Society, and received the Intellectual Property Legal Writing Award. Prior to law school, Ruben earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. While there, he was in co-op programs with BMW Manufacturing and the Dow Chemical Company.
###
About McAndrews, Held & Malloy McAndrews, Held & Malloy boasts one of the most highly regarded teams of intellectual property attorneys, agents and technology specialists in the United States. Founded in 1988, the firm offers deep bench strength in matters relating to patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and unfair competition. McAndrews attorneys have underlying scientific-based degrees and extensive prior experience in technology and IP-focused professions, and they routinely handle cases that involve innovative and cutting-edge technologies in specialized industries. While best known for their record of litigation successes, the firm also offers services in IP procurement, patent interferences, trademark oppositions and cancellations, IP/technology opinions and investigations, global portfolio management, development and licensing, M&A support, due diligence, design rights and joint ventures. Clients include multi-national corporations, Fortune 500 companies, startups and world-renowned universities. For more information, visit www.mcandrews-ip.com.