McDermott Adds IP Lawyer in Silicon Valley

McDermott Will & Emery has recruited for its Silicon Vallley office a patent team led by Judith "Judy" Mohr, who was an intellectual property partner at King & Spalding. "We have a very busy IP practice in this office and we're growing it," said William Gaede, a partner in McDermott's life sciences and medical practices group.

Cheryl Miller

2012-08-06 12:00:00 AM

McDermott Will & Emery has recruited a patent team led by Judith "Judy" Mohr to its Silicon Valley office, the firm announced Wednesday.

Mohr had been an intellectual property partner in King & Spalding's Redwood Shores, Calif., office for the past four years. Joining Mohr in the move to McDermott are patent agents Susan Evans and Susan Fitch.

"I felt like my practice had reached a point where it would benefit from the expertise that McDermott brings," said Mohr, a life sciences specialist who received her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law and holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining King & Spalding in 2008, Mohr spent eight years at Perkins Coie.

McDermott continues to add lawyers to its intellectual practice in the 21-partner Menlo Park office. Other recent additions include Fabio Marino from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe; Bhanu Sadasivan from Covington & Burling; and S. Michael Song from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.

"We have a very busy IP practice in this office and we're growing it," said William Gaede, a partner in the firm's life sciences and medical practices group.

Mohr's hiring follows the recent announcement that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office plans to open a satellite in San Jose.

"Certainly the ability to be closer to the examiners will be a benefit to our clients on the West Coast ... and also for our clients in Asia," Gaede said.