IP Litigator Joins Holland & Knight

NEW YORK – July 30, 2012 – Holland & Knight today announced that Charles A. Weiss has joined the firm as a partner and head of its New York Intellectual Property Group.  This hire is an important step in the firm's commitment to grow and strengthen its New York office.

"Charles adds important new capabilities and perspectives to our group," said Joshua Krumholz, Holland & Knight’s national Intellectual Property Group leader. "We are thrilled to have him as a partner and look forward to working with him."

In 2011, Mr. Weiss was recognized as one of the world’s leading patent litigators by Intellectual Asset Management magazine, particularly in the life sciences field.  He has litigated patent, trade secret, license and false advertising cases involving matters such as the expression of recombinant proteins, controlled-release pharmaceuticals, medical diagnostic agents, endocrine and hormone products, nutritional supplements, food chemistry and processing, high-caustic detergents, pipe liners and tube fittings.

"Charles' vast experience with technology-driven litigation and transactions, primarily in the pharmaceutical, chemical and biotechnology areas, will prove beneficial to our clients," said John M. Hogan, chair of the firm's Litigation Section.  "Having him on the team will further strengthen the foundation of our practice."

Mr. Weiss also has extensive experience in the investigation of product counterfeiting and pursuit of those responsible. In addition to his work as a trial lawyer, he enjoys a diverse non-litigation practice, with an emphasis on supporting transactions with substantial values attributed to a party’s patent position. He has negotiated and drafted hundreds of licenses and other agreements, including commercial collaboration, joint research and product acquisition agreements, and regularly advises financial professionals on the strength or vulnerability of a target company’s patent position.

“I am pleased to be joining Holland & Knight's New York office,” said Mr. Weiss.  "The firm is well known for its highly talented trial lawyers and demonstrated excellence on behalf of clients when the stakes are at their highest."

Mr. Weiss is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the New York Intellectual Property Law Association, the Federal Circuit Bar Association and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He is an adjunct professor at New York Law School, where he designed and teaches a course on patent litigation and analysis. He is also an associate adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School, where he designed and teaches a course on food and drug law.

Mr. Weiss received a J.D. degree from Columbia University, where he was a notes and comments editor for the Columbia Law Review, and graduated with a B.S. degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to joining Holland & Knight, he was a partner with Kenyon & Kenyon LLP.