F. Dominic “Nick” Cerrito and Eric Stops, former intellectual property lawyers at Jones Day, joined the firm’s New York office as partners in June. Both concentrate on intellectual property disputes in the pharmaceutical industry, including Hatch-Waxman litigation and client counseling in the navigation of FDA laws.
Nick Cerrito, former co-head of Jones Day’s pharmaceutical group, focuses his practice on Hatch-Waxman litigation and the intersection of patent and FDA laws. He has litigated a wide variety of different products in different therapeutic classes including anti-cancer, central nervous system, analgesics, anti-hypertensive and gastrointestinal products on behalf of large pharmaceutical companies, established biotechnology companies, and start-ups. Cerrito’s practice also includes due diligence in the areas of pharmaceutical product acquisition, strategic planning, and patent prosecution strategies. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America and as a BTI Client Service All-Star. He received his J.D. from New York Law School and holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Case Western Reserve University.
Eric Stops also specializes in Hatch-Waxman patent litigation on behalf of innovator pharmaceutical companies. His recent representations include litigations concerning Revlimid® (a treatment for multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes); Nuedexta® (a treatment for pseudobulbar affect); Xyrem® (a treatment for excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy in patients with narcolepsy); and Lotronex® (a treatment for female irritable bowel syndrome). Stops counsels clients regarding FDA issues, patent portfolio evaluation, and the preparation of opinions concerning the patentability of inventions, validity of patents, and freedom-to-operate for prospective technologies. His experience includes the development of licensing strategies and the negotiation and preparation of agreements. He received his J.D. from New York University and holds a B.S. in Biochemistry, magna cum laude, from SUNY Geneseo.
