Arent Fox LLP is pleased to once again announce the expansion of its Intellectual Property practice with the addition of a four attorney patent team led by partners Robert M. Schulman and Jeff B. Vockrodt. Mr. Schulman and Mr. Vockrodt are joining the Washington, DC office and bringing their extensive patent law practices, which focus on biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and chemical inventions, to one of the country’s largest intellectual property groups. Earlier this month, Arent Fox announced the addition of two intellectual property partners in New York. The firm has now added more than 20 lawyers and professionals to its internationally recognized Intellectual Property practice in 2015.
“Rob and Jeff have significant experience handling critical post grant proceedings and are well-recognized authorities before the Patent Office,” said Managing Partner Matt Clark. “As two of the top patent lawyers in Washington, they have a great track-record in helping clients achieve their objectives. Rob and Jeff are a superb addition to one of the firm’s signature practice areas.” Joining Mr. Vockrodt and Mr. Schulman are associates Christopher Yaen and Alexander Spiegler, both former patent examiners with more than a decade of patent prosecution and counseling experience in the life sciences area. With marquee partners in Washington, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, the Intellectual Property practice has more than 100 professionals serving clients in the United States and around the globe.
In addition to their wealth of experience on prosecution matters, Mr. Schulman and Mr. Vockrodt focus their work on contested cases at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, including interferences, reexaminations — both ex parte and inter partes — and inter partes reviews for all types of inventions. They have both handled all phases of inter partes review through successful Federal Circuit appeal.
Mr. Schulman frequently provides counsel on validity, non-infringement, and claim construction issues in litigation. He has extensive experience in the area of clearance studies for both established and start-up companies. Mr. Schulman’s practice includes development of patent portfolios, patent prosecution including application drafting, prosecution of applications, and appellate review. He has also helped companies establish best practices for patent application
writing and claim drafting. Mr. Schulman has a special focus in recombinant plant technology, general agricultural technology, vaccines, drug delivery technology, medical devices, and polymers.
Mr. Vockrodt counsels clients on global patent procurement and enforcement strategies, represents companies in complex administrative proceedings within the USPTO, and litigates patents in district court. He has represented both patent owners and challengers in disputes involving a diverse range of technologies, including semiconductors, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and chemical processing. Mr. Vockrodt routinely serves as lead counsel in inter partes review proceedings before the newly created Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and has significant prior experience throughout all stages of ex parte and inter partes reexaminations, as well as interference proceedings before that tribunal. Prior to his admission to the bar, Mr. Vockrodt served as a patent examiner in the USPTO, where he worked on patent applications in the semiconductor manufacturing arts.
“Rob and Jeff are a significant addition to our chemical/pharmaceutical patent practice,” said partner James J. Bindseil, head of Arent Fox’s Patent group. “They will be an excellent resource for our clients due to their experience and success in sophisticated prosecution matters and in inter partes review.”
Chambers Global, Chambers USA, and Legal 500 annually recognize the Intellectual Property practice and its attorneys as industry leaders. Arent Fox is one of the few “go-to” firms for novel and high-profile intellectual property issues and with more than 100 full-time IP professionals, the group offers a full range of services across copyright, patent, and trademark matters.