ITC Patent Litigation Group Joins Winston & Strawn

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Winston & Strawn LLP has announced that 10 attorneys focused on litigating complex technology patent cases before the U.S. International Trade Commission are expected to join the firm's highly regarded intellectual property practice. John R. Alison, Steven M. Anzalone, Paul C. Goulet, and Thomas L. Jarvis have joined the firm as partners based in Winston & Strawn's Washington, D.C. office and are assembling a team of additional experienced attorneys and support staff for these high demand litigations. 

"The arrival of this well-regarded group aligns with both our regional and firmwide growth strategy," said Thomas Buchanan, managing partner, Winston & Strawn Washington, D.C. "The unique skills they bring to our already well-known intellectual property practice will enable us to better serve our clients as we help them navigate the unique challenges presented by ITC litigation."

"The ITC's expedited procedural schedules—typically 10 months from institution of a case until trial—requires trial teams with the technical background to immediately understand the technology, the procedural and substantive experience to navigate the special requirements of administrative legal proceedings, and the trial skills to be successful," said George Lombardi, partner and chair of Winston & Strawn's intellectual property practice. "Our strong client base in the technology and telecommunication sectors will dovetail exceptionally well with the Jarvis team's experience and capabilities." 

Collectively, the group brings more than 75 years of experience litigating patent cases, including litigating more than 70 prior ITC cases. The group is currently focused on the $240 billion global smartphone and wireless communication industry and has a long history litigating electronics and semiconductor technology at the ITC, including microprocessors, digital signal processors, memory devices (DRAMs, SRAMs, and EPROMs), networking equipment, semiconductor fabrication processes and packaging, and various operating systems and application software. They also have litigated diverse technologies such as medical devices, industrial equipment, design automation tools, alkaline batteries, and a wide variety of consumer products.

"Winston & Strawn has an excellent reputation as a global law firm with an unsurpassed litigation platform," said Mr. Jarvis. "We look forward to introducing our clients to the strength of its highly recognized jury trial litigators in both IP and other disciplines."

More than 200 attorneys practice in multiple areas of IP-related law in Winston & Strawn's intellectual property practice, including more than 20 partners who have first-chaired IP trials in various courts throughout the U.S. and in Europe. The practice has received national recognition in the United States, most recently being chosen for The National Law Journal's IP Hot List in 2012 and 2013. Additionally, in 2012 the firm's IP litigation practice was ranked in the first tier nationally by U.S. News & World Report for the second straight year. Most recently, Winston & Strawn was selected as The National Law Journal's Chicago Litigation Department of the Year: Intellectual Property.