WilmerHale today announced that Justin Watts, PhD, and Matthew Shade, PhD, have joined the firm as partners in its London office, strengthening WilmerHale’s position as a firm of choice for complex patent litigation in the United Kingdom and for clients seeking an effective global strategy for their intellectual property disputes.
Dr. Watts, a first-chair patent litigator with deep experience in international disputes including competition matters, and Dr. Shade, a skilled practitioner and former patent examiner in the European Patent Office, come to WilmerHale from a Magic Circle firm, where Dr. Watts was the head of the firm’s UK IP litigation practice. Together they bring more than 30 years of combined practice, with experience in a wide range of technologies, including cell phones, pharmaceutical products, semiconductors and aero engines.
“Justin and Matthew are an impressive duo who will substantially strengthen our international patent litigation capabilities,” said Susan Murley, co-managing partner of WilmerHale. “Their experience with high-stakes IP litigation work and ability to manage complex international patent disputes will benefit our life sciences and tech clients alike.”
“The opportunity to join WilmerHale allows us to be a part of a firm that boasts the most esteemed IP litigation practice in the United States,” said Dr. Watts. “Matthew and I are looking forward to joining the WilmerHale team and contributing our UK and EU expertise to extend the ways in which clients can rely upon WilmerHale for well-coordinated and comprehensive guidance in global patent litigation matters.”
WilmerHale’s IP Litigation Practice features a premier litigation team backed by the academic and industry experience of more than 100 lawyers and technology specialists with scientific or technical degrees. WilmerHale’s lawyers have tried major cases in US federal district courts from coast to coast, before the US International Trade Commission, and in Germany and the United Kingdom. The firm’s lawyers also regularly represent clients in patent appeals before the US Supreme Court and the Federal Circuit. Since the first year the title of IP Litigation Department of the Year was awarded in 2004, The American Lawyer has honored WilmerHale twice and as a finalist six times in this biennial contest.
Mark Selwyn, co-chair of WilmerHale’s IP Litigation Practice, added: “It is with great pride that we welcome Justin and Matthew. They bring a superb track record of success and commitment to legal excellence, and they will further enhance our ability to offer clients the finest representation for their global IP litigation disputes.”
Source: www.wilmerhale.com
