Former Hoffmann-La Roche Attorney Joins Gibbons

(NEWARK, NJ - January 22, 2014) - Joining Gibbons P.C. as Counsel in the Intellectual Property Department is Samuel H. Megerditchian, who recently served as Senior Counsel at Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. and is the former chief chemist at a major multinational corporation.

Mr. Megerditchian's arrival reinforces the firm's focus on offering clients the opportunity to work with strategically-minded intellectual property attorneys with deep, hands-on industry experience. Roughly one-third of the attorneys in Gibbons Intellectual Property Department have joined the firm from the ranks of chief patent, IP, or licensing counsel across the pharmaceutical, telecommunications, biotechnology, consumer products, and chemical industries.

Mr. Megerditchian is a seasoned patent agent and attorney with over 15 years of experience in chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnological, electrical, and mechanical matters, with a concentration in the development, management, and enforcement of patent portfolios. He has drafted more than 120 original patent applications, is associated with approximately 200 U.S.-issued patents, and has performed a considerable amount of opinion work, including freedom-to-operate and patentability studies. Previously, Mr. Megerditchian was Senior Counsel at Hoffmann-La Roche, where he served as U.S. Patent Head for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases and then as U.S. Patent Head for Inflammatory Diseases. He is a demonstrated leader in the global management of intellectual property issues and a business strategist who recognizes that the primary goal of a patent attorney is to secure a competitive advantage for his client.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, he was Chief Chemist/Chemistry Laboratory Supervisor at a major multinational corporation.

"Sam's experience perfectly complements our mission to recruit top-tier lawyers who have served integral roles in intellectual property operations at international companies developing some of the most promising, innovative products on the market," says David E. De Lorenzi, Chair of the Gibbons Intellectual Property Department. "Combined with the scientific backgrounds that Department attorneys like Sam have, this industry experience and first-hand knowledge of clients' business environments allow the Gibbons team the ability to 'think like a client.' We are very pleased that Sam chose to join the team."

Mr. Megerditchian received his J.D. from St. John's University School of Law, M.S. from Polytechnic Institute of New York University, and B.S. from Iona College. He is a member of the New York bar, and is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and United States Patent & Trademark Office.

About the Gibbons Intellectual Property Department:

Gibbons attorneys manage patent assertions, negotiate IP transactions, conduct due diligence, litigate IP disputes, and create strategic IP portfolios - both from in-house and outside counsel perspectives. Roughly one-third of the Department's attorneys are former chief patent counsel or vice presidents of the intellectual property departments of major international companies, which allows the team to strategically address clients' intellectual property matters through the prism of
long-term life sciences and technology industry experience. This targeted recruiting has helped Gibbons assemble a high-level, diverse pool of talent and the most comprehensive slate of intellectual property services. The firm maintains the IP Law Alert (iplawalert.com), an active blog and online resource providing practical perspectives on developing legal and business news, analysis, and discussion.