The Philadelphia-based law firm of Reed Smith LLP beefed up its global intellectual property practice with the addition of six attorneys in Delaware, Texas and California’s Silicon Valley.
A key part of the transaction was a decision by key attorneys who joined Reed Smith from the Houston-based firm of Novak Druce.
Peter Chassman, who previously served as head of Winston & Strawn’s Texas IP practice, joins the firm in Houston as a partner.
In Wilmington, Reed Smith brought on board veteran patent litigators — counsel Rudolf E. “Rudy” Hutz, and partners R. Eric Hutz and Eric Evain, Ph.D. (all of whom were with Novak Druce Connolly Bove & Quigg LLP). Other parts of the Connolly Bove practice became part of the law firm of Connolly Gallagher.
Katherine M. Basile, former co-chair of Novak Druce’s trademark practice, joins Reed Smith’s Silicon Valley office as a partner, and Jason Garcia joins as counsel.
“These six lawyers represent a strategic expansion of our intellectual property capabilities across the United States,” said James Hultquist, co-chair of Reed Smith’s IP, Information & Innovation Group. “We are delighted to add this remarkably talented and experienced group of attorneys to the firm as the need for top-tier IP representation continues to surge worldwide.”
The three-attorneys in Wilmington come with more than 90 years of combined experience in patent litigation.
The move enhances the firm’s IP capabilities in the Delaware District Court, which is the second most active patent litigation docket in the nation.
“We are all very excited to be joining such a dynamic law firm, where we can take our work to the next level,” said Eric Hutz. “Our collective experience is a great fit with Reed Smith; our team will add further bench strength to the firm’s patent litigation capabilities, especially in the chemicals sector, which will be of great benefit to the firm’s large consumer products and life sciences client base.”
Before joining Novak via a merger in 2013, Eric Hutz, Eric Evain, and Rudy Hutz practiced together at Connolly, Bove, Lodge and Hutz LLP, an IP boutique.
The team successfully defended one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies when patents valued at up to $80 billion were at risk, a release stated.
Rudy Hutz has argued more than 50 appeals at the Federal Circuit in various intellectual property matters.
“Rudy Hutz has earned a reputation as one of the very best, and most liked, attorneys in the United States; even his adversaries like him,” said Kurt Gwynne, managing partner of the Reed Smith’s Wilmington office. “He has handled more than 50 appeals at the Federal Circuit and is among the few patent litigators who have argued in the U.S. Supreme Court. We look forward to having the team onboard in Wilmington.”
Eric Hutz has been handling patent suits for more than 25 years.
Eric Evain has more than 15 years of experience.
