Ballard Spahr Welcomes New IP Partners

(November 4, 2013) – Wendy A. Choi and John L. Cuddihy have joined Ballard Spahr as partners in the firm’s Intellectual Property Department, firm Chair Mark Stewart announced today. Ms. Choi will be based in Atlanta and Mr. Cuddihy will be resident in Washington, D.C.

Ballard Spahr’s national intellectual property practice helps clients worldwide develop, commercialize, enforce, and defend their intellectual property assets. The firm’s attorneys counsel early-stage growth companies, entrepreneurs, universities, and major corporations in an array of industries, including biotechnology, chemistry, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, software, and media and entertainment.

“Wendy and John, who excel at their craft and have a keen understanding of their clients' needs and expectations, are the latest evidence of our growing prominence in IP,” Mr. Stewart said. “They add depth and breadth in important areas of the practice and I know that we and our clients will enjoy working with them.”  

Ms. Choi will be a member of the Patents Group; the Chemical, Biotechnology, and Medical Technology Teams; and the Life Sciences and Technology Group. Mr. Cuddihy will be a member of the Intellectual Property Litigation, Antitrust, and Commercial Litigation Groups.

Said Mitchell A. Katz, Chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Department: “We’re fortunate to have found two skilled attorneys who will further strengthen our IP capabilities across the country. Wendy’s connections with a number of blue-chip chemical and pharmaceutical companies will be important for our growing Chemical and Pharmaceutical Teams, and John’s impressive range of experience will make him instrumental in growing our D.C. and nationwide IP litigation strength.”   

With more than 20 years of experience representing clients in domestic and international patent matters, Ms. Choi focuses on complex patent prosecution and counseling and on IP strategy. Her clients range from start-ups to large corporations in the chemical, pharmaceutical, nanotechnology, biotechnology, cleantech, and medical device/diagnostic industries. She advises on potential patent infringement issues and prepares invalidity and non-infringement opinions.

Ms. Choi also represents companies in licensing negotiations, patent reissue, reexamination, and interference proceedings, and analyzes patents in litigation. She has a particular emphasis in Asia, energy, and biosimilars. She comes to Ballard Spahr from the Atlanta office of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, where she was a partner in the Intellectual Property Department. Before she entered law, Ms. Choi was a research scientist in the polymer and plastics divisions at the Rohm and Haas Company.

Mr. Cuddihy, an intellectual property and antitrust litigator, has experience representing clients across a range of industry sectors and is particularly well regarded for his skill in handling patent infringement lawsuits. He has served as lead counsel to a global hotel chain in patent infringement lawsuits involving website technology, Internet transmissions, and mobile applications. In addition, he has represented automobile manufacturers in litigation involving component technology and telematics systems.

In the antitrust area, Mr. Cuddihy has defended Fortune 500 corporations in Sherman Act Section 1 multidistrict class action lawsuits. He has represented a global science company in class action litigation involving the alleged fixing of chemical prices. He also recently defended a national transportation company against allegations that it participated in a conspiracy to fix fuel surcharge prices. His work in complex commercial litigation matters includes the representation of companies in multimillion-dollar breach-of-contract litigation as well as matters involving breach of fiduciary duty.

Before joining Ballard Spahr, Mr. Cuddihy was a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Crowell & Moring LLP. Mr. Cuddihy also has a background in public service. He served as a law clerk to the Honorable Timothy B. Dyk of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; as a special assistant to former United Nations Ambassador Madeleine K. Albright; and as a speechwriter for former New Jersey Governor James J. Florio.

About Ballard Spahr

Ballard Spahr LLP, a national law firm with more than 500 lawyers in 14 offices in the United States, provides a range of services in litigation, business and finance, real estate, intellectual property, and public finance. Our clients include Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, life sciences and technology companies, health systems, investors and developers, government agencies and sponsored enterprises, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations. The firm combines a national scope of practice with strong regional market knowledge. For more information, please visit www.ballardspahr.com.