Troutman Sanders LLP announced today that Dean Morehous and Marcus Hall have joined the firm as partners in the Intellectual Property practice in the San Francisco office. Both lawyers practiced previously at Novak Druce Connolly Bove & Quigg LLP. Last month, the firm added partner David Devernoe and associate Christopher Franich to the Intellectual Property practice in the San Diego office.

“When we opened in San Francisco less than two months ago, we said that we intended to quickly grow the office,” said Craig Kline, managing partner of the firm’s San Francisco office. “We are very pleased that Dean and Marcus are joining us. Their significant IP and commercial litigation experience, as well as their strong ties to the local community, will be of great benefit to our expanding practice.”

Troutman Sanders opened the San Francisco office on April 1. In addition to Morehous and Hall, the firm announced today that it is adding Paul Lacourciere as a partner in the Energy practice in the San Francisco office.

“The firm has a very active IP practice on the West Coast, with lawyers resident in San Francisco, San Diego and Orange County” said Bill Withrow, chair of the firm’s Litigation department. “The experience that Marcus and Dean bring to the firm — their IP and complex business litigation credentials, as well as their background working with emerging and established companies involved in diverse technology areas — aligns perfectly with our West Coast practice.”

Morehous is an accomplished trial lawyer with substantial first chair jury trial experience in complex business and intellectual property disputes. During his career of more than thirty years, he has successfully handled cases throughout California and in federal and other state courts across the country. His litigation experience includes patent, copyright and trade secret disputes. In addition, Morehous has handled numerous appeals, arbitrations, mediations and contested evidentiary and motion proceedings. He also counsels clients concerning intellectual property license agreements, including information technology licenses, service agreements and related projects.

Hall’s practice focuses on patent and other intellectual property litigation. In addition, he handles licensing and contract drafting and negotiation, appellate advocacy, alternative dispute resolution, and creditor counseling in bankruptcy court relating to intellectual property rights. Hall has also represented clients in the formation and structuring of risk retention groups and other forms of captive organizations.

Both Morehous and Hall have represented early stage and established companies in many different areas, including semiconductors and electronics, pharmaceuticals, information technology and computer science, data storage, energy project development, biotechnology, aerospace and chemical engineering.

“We are excited to join Troutman Sanders. With a strong West Coast presence and national litigation capabilities, the firm offers an ideal platform for our practice and our clients,” Morehous said. “We look forward to collaborating with our new colleagues and contributing to the continued expansion of the firm’s IP and litigation practices,” added Hall.

Morehous received his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his J.D. from the Martin Luther King, Jr. School of Law at the University of California, Davis. Hall received his undergraduate degree from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, and his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of California Hastings College of the Law.