Morrison & Foerster Names Palo Alto Leader

PALO ALTO (May 1, 2013) – Morrison & Foerster has named Alan Cope (A.C.) Johnston, a partner in the firm’s Litigation Department, as managing partner of its Palo Alto office. He succeeds Christopher Eide who led the office for the past two years.

Mr. Johnston is a well-respected trial lawyer whose practice focuses on disputes involving patent infringement, trade secret theft and technology licensing. During Mr. Johnston’s more than 35 year tenure with Morrison & Foerster, he has held a number of leadership positions, including founding and serving as managing partner of both the firm’s Washington D.C. and Palo Alto offices, head of the Tokyo litigation group, managing partner of the Northern Virginia office and co-head of the firm’s Intellectual Property Litigation Group.

“A.C. opened our office in Palo Alto in 1985 at the beginning of the tech industry. He has been an invaluable leader in every position he has held and we are pleased to welcome him home to Palo Alto where innovation is rooted,” said Larren Nashelsky, chair of Morrison & Foerster. “We would also like to thank Chris for the excellent job he has done in his leadership role while simultaneously maintaining a flourishing patent practice.”

“I am delighted to be back in Palo Alto,” Mr. Johnston said. “The move brings an exciting opportunity to expand the firm’s core strengths representing both global corporations and emerging technology companies in tech-focused corporate and M&A transactions and life sciences work, and complex IP litigation and counseling.”

Mr. Johnston received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A. from Yale University. He has been listed for several years byChambers USA and Chambers Global as an expert in his field who is based abroad in U.S. and Japan intellectual property, and is also listed as an international leader in UK intellectual property. He is also recommended as a leading lawyer by Legal 500 US 2010, PLC Which lawyer? 2009 and Super Lawyers 2012.

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