Moving to expand its already strong life sciences capabilities, international law firm McDermott Will & Emery LLP today announced the addition of two new partners and a team of seasoned patent practitioners in its Silicon Valley and Boston offices.

The Silicon Valley-based patent team, led by one of the nation’s leading scientific intellectual property lawyers, Dr. Judy Mohr, join from another AmLaw 50 firm.

Together, they will focus on all aspects of domestic and international patent procurement, patent portfolio strategic counseling, and comprehensive portfolio management for emerging as well as mature life sciences companies. Dr. Mohr brings nearly twenty years of life sciences intellectual property experience to the Firm. With an educational background in biology, chemistry and chemical engineering, and industrial engineering in the polymer and pharmaceutical formulation fields, she has a wide range of technical capabilities across multiple industries.

Dr. Mohr’s team, which includes veteran practitioner Susan Evans, Ph.D. and Susan Fitch, Ph.D., is made up of a number of senior Ph.D.-credentialed patent agents and lawyers. They will advance McDermott’s current life sciences practice by adding considerable breadth and depth in patent prosecution, licensing and collaboration, patent and licensing diligence associated with mergers and acquisitions and other transactional related matters in the life sciences.

The team joins McDermott ahead of the planned opening of a new United States Patent and Trademark Office satellite office in San Jose, which will significantly boost patent filings and examinations for West Coast and international companies.

In Boston, Richard B. Smith, a seasoned life sciences deal maker, is joining McDermott’s growing Corporate Advisory Practice Group. Smith, who previously served as a partner at another AmLaw 100 firm, has for over 20 years advised life sciences companies on strategic business collaborations involving licensing, research, development, marketing, supply, clinical research and co-promotion transactions. In addition, he counsels companies on other corporate issues common to life sciences companies, including corporate formation for start-up ventures, venture capital and other financing, joint ventures, M&A, university licensing and intellectual property strategies.

“We are delighted to welcome our new colleagues to the McDermott family,” said Mark J. Itri, partner and head of McDermott’s IP Prosecution, Transactions & Strategy Practice Group. “Life Sciences is a strategically important, fast-moving field, and one where McDermott has particular skills and a strong desire to expand. At the same time, we are delivering on our commitment to build our Silicon Valley office through the acquisition of top-notch talent and clients.”

“With these hires, we are taking a giant step toward becoming one of the premier life sciences law firms,” added David Goldman, partner and head of McDermott’s Corporate Advisory Practice Group. “Today’s moves reflect our commitment to expanding our already significant global life sciences capabilities both on the transactional side and in terms of intellectual property.”

Dr. Mohr received her J.D., cum laude, Order of the Coif from Santa Clara, and also holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Mr. Smith received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School. He holds a M.E. in Electrical Engineering and a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

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