O'Malley, Wexler Join Paul Hastings in NY

09/26/06

O'Malley, Wexler join Paul Hastings in NY
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker has hired two prominent attorneys, Joseph O'Malley and Bruce Wexler, as partners in its New York office. With the new addition, Paul Hastings aims to strengthen its international intellectual property litigation practice. O'Malley and Wexler, former employees of IP boutique firm Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto LLP, enjoy reputations as leading patent litigators in New York, and have represented well-known pharmaceutical and chemical companies. The firm intends to leverage on their expertise to assist its clients based in U.S., Asia, and Europe.

Paul Hastings considers IP litigation practice its core area and is looking to recruit additional patent expertise that can cater to the firm's life science clients. Recognizing the important synergies between intellectual property law and business goals, the IP litigation practice group of Paul Hastings focuses on various aspects of IP law, which includes patent litigation, patent preparation and prosecution, trademark, copyright, trade secrets, IT/e-commerce, and IP transactions and licensing.

O'Malley was ranked as one of the top intellectual property attorneys in New York in the 2005 and 2006 editions of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business whereas Wexler was a former law clerk in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The two have won the 2004 Burton Award for Legal Writing.

Saul Ewing's bid to solidify Washington presence
Philadelphia-based Saul Ewing plans to expand its Washington, DC practice by acquiring boutique firm Schmeltzer Aptaker & Shepard. Though Saul Ewing has in principle agreed to combine operations with the smaller firm, the final decision awaits shareholder's approval. The necessary formalities of the merger process are likely to be completed by October 1, 2006. As part of the merger agreement the new firm, named Saul Ewing LLP , will have 25 attorneys. Saul Ewing currently has six attorneys along with 12 labor and employment lawyers and plans to add two new associates to its total strength. The merger of operations will allow Saul Ewing to diversify into other practice areas including labor and employment, corporate and public policy law, and simultaneously strengthen its presence in Washington.

It is noteworthy to mention that last year Schmeltzer Aptaker merged its operations with Washington-based firm Harris Ellsworth & Levin to form its international trade practice group. As a result of this merger, Saul Ewing's attorney strength will now be nearing 300. Saul Ewing is also exploring possibilities to expand its presence in New Jersey. Currently the firm has five attorneys at its Newark office and is looking to expand its presence to relatively new locations including New England, Florida, and Ohio. In addition to its offices in Philadelphia and Washington, DC, the firm has offices in Harrisburg and Chester brook, Pennsylvania, Baltimore, Maryland, Princeton, and Newark, New Jersey, and in Wilmington, Delaware.
 

• See Top 10 Reasons Most Law Firms Have No Idea How to Hire and Evaluate Patent Attorneys for more information.