On January 1, 2013, seven attorneys, formerly of Weingarten, Schurgin, Gagnebin & Lebovici (WSGL), a Boston intellectual property law firm, joined Preti Flaherty, a regional New England law firm with offices in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Washington, DC and New Jersey. The seven intellectual property attorneys include:
Stanley M. Schurgin was previously the Managing Partner of WSGL and currently practices as a Director with Preti Flaherty. He serves as Chair of Preti’s Intellectual Property Practice Group and brings over forty years of practice, with experience in evaluating intellectual property as part of start-up, acquisition and financing ventures, to the firm. Stan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University (1959) and obtained his law degree, cum laude, from the New England School of Law (1964), where he was an Adjunct Professor of patent law for ten years.
Charles “Buzz” L. Gagnebin III was previously a Senior and Founding Partner with WSGL and currently practices as a Director with Preti Flaherty. He advises clients on a variety of issues in the high technology industry, intellectual property licensing, trademark, copyright and international issues. Buzz taught copyright law for nearly 20 years and has facilitated several Bar association seminars in copyright law. He graduated from Harvard University in 1963 with a B.A. degree in Applied Physics. He also received a M.S. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1966 in Electrical Engineering, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan in 1969.
Victor B. Lebovici was previously a Senior Partner with WSGL and currently practices as a Director with Preti Flaherty. Vic represents companies of all sizes before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in patent and trademark matters, primarily in the fields of networking, computer systems, electronic devices and systems, computer software, mechanical and electro-mechanical devices. Vic graduated from Cornell University in 1970 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and received a Master of Engineering degree (Electrical) from Cornell University in 1971. In 1975 he received an M.B.A. degree from Northeastern University and received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Suffolk University in 1980.
Gordon R. Moriarty was previously a Senior Partner with WSGL and currently practices as a Director with Preti Flaherty. Gordon develops and coordinates larger patent portfolios for corporate and institutional clients. In managing his clients’ intellectual property assets, Gordon provides guidance in the prosecution and licensing of patents and trademarks. Gordon received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, specializing in communications theory and optics, from Northwestern University in 1982. He continued his engineering education at Loyola University Maryland and he later received a Juris Doctor degree from the Northeastern University School of Law in 1993.
Beverly E. Hjorth was previously a Partner with WSGL and is currently a Director with Preti Flaherty. Beverly focuses her practice on the prosecution of applications for U.S. and foreign patents, particularly in the mechanical, civil, and environmental fields. She also maintains a wide ranging trademark practice. Beverly received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University in 1979 and an M.S.E. in Civil Engineering from Princeton University in 1982. In 1988, she graduated magna cum laude from Boston University School of Law.
Paul D. Sorkin, was previously a Partner with WSGL and currently practices as a Director with Preti Flaherty. He has extensive expertise in preparing patent applications in the software, electrical, electromechanical and electronic arts. Paul provides clients with strategic patent law counsel, in addition to advice regarding other areas of intellectual property, such as trademarks and trade secrets, and helps them navigate the many challenges faced by companies engaged in technology and innovation. Paul received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, with High Honors, from Rutgers University College of Engineering in 1982 and a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School in 1993.
Brendan J. Kennedy was previously an Associate with WSGL and is currently an Associate with Preti Flaherty. Brendan works with clients to pursue US and foreign patents in the electrical, software and mechanical arts. In addition to his patent work, Brendan also negotiates agreements and pursues trademark and copyright protection, as well as advising clients on the same. Brendan received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from The University of Connecticut in 1987 and a Juris Doctor degree from The University of Connecticut School of Law in 1996.
The WSGL attorneys bring vast technical and legal expertise to Preti Flaherty and a client base that ranges from large multinational corporations to universities to venture-backed start-ups. According to Preti Flaherty’s Managing Partner, Jonathan Piper, “Joining forces with the WSGL attorneys gives our clients direct access to their deep experience in patent and trademark prosecution, copyrights and all other aspects of IP law. This expands our IP capabilities further into technical fields such as engineering, software development and biotechnology and greatly expand our patent litigation capabilities.”
Stan Schurgin, former Managing Partner of WSGL, said, “Our clients will continue to get the same high-quality IP legal services we’ve provided for decades, with the added advantage of access to the many different practice areas of a larger firm. Preti Flaherty’s experience in Litigation, Environmental, Energy, Corporate and Employment law will be a great benefit to our clients. We are excited about this opportunity for both ourselves and our clients.”
