International law firm McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to announce that Dr. Bhanu K. Sadasivan has joined the Firm as an IP Litigation partner, based in its Silicon Valley office. Additionally, the Firm named Nathan Smith and Dane C. Butzer as counsel in its Intellectual Property Prosecution, Transactions & Strategy Practice Group in its Orange County office.

The additions are part of the Firm’s strategic expansion of its Intellectual Property practices as it works to keep pace with fast-growing client demand in these areas.  Last September, McDermott announced the arrival of 25 experienced IP attorneys and patent agents in its Silicon Valley, Orange County and three other U.S. offices.

Dr. Sadasivan, who was previously at another AmLaw 50 law firm, focuses her practice on patent litigation and trade secret litigation in the Life Sciences area, including pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology, as well as in semi-conductors, consumer electronics, computer software and Internet retailing. She has particular experience performing technical analysis regarding the interpretation, validity and infringement of patents. Dr. Sadasivan is licensed to practice in California and before the United States Patent & Trademark Office.

“Bhanu is a very welcome addition to our Silicon Valley office,” said Sarah Chapin Columbia, partner and head of McDermott’s IP Litigation Practice Group. “As client demand continues to build in California and elsewhere, Bhanu will contribute significantly to our cross-disciplinary Life Sciences practice, helping clients to preserve and protect their Intellectual Property rights in this key area.  Her deep scientific background will also strengthen our ability to serve clients in high-stakes patent litigation, particularly in the biotech, pharma and electronics industries.”

Dr. Sadasivan earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in biology and biotechnology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, finishing both programs first in her class. She earned a Ph. D. in Immunology from Yale University and worked as a scientist at Boston’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital / Harvard Medical School. She then received her J.D. at Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley.

Nathan Smith’s practice focuses on both foreign and domestic patents, trademarks, and other forms of intellectual property protection.  He counsels startups and established companies in their portfolio strategy, analyses of patent validity, patent infringement, and freedom to operate.  He has represented clients across a variety of technologies, including automotive, cardiovascular devices and methods, eyewear, orthopedic devices and methods, dental devices and methods, personal electronics, recreational equipment, footwear, and various other medical and mechanical technologies. Mr. Smith received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and his J.D. from Brigham Young University.

Dane Butzer focuses his practice on patent prosecution, trademark prosecution and protection, and copyright filings. In prior roles at both a law firm and as a solo practitioner, he has represented clients in such areas as facsimile devices, image processing, and telecommunications. He earned his B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from The Ohio State University where he also received his J.D.

“We are delighted to welcome Nathan and Dane as the most recent additions to our practice,” said Mark Itri, head of the Firm’s IP Prosecution, Transactions & Strategy Practice Group. “We continue to grow and strengthen the Firms’ capabilities in patent and trademark prosecution matters, keeping us well-positioned to help clients adapt to the new ‘first to file’ system created under the America Invents Act. With so many of our clients working at the cutting-edge of today’s new technologies, McDermott is dedicated to doing everything we can to protect their valuable Intellectual Property rights.”

With more than 190 lawyers and patent agents around the world, McDermott’s Intellectual Property practice is renowned for its broad trial, appellate, prosecution and transaction experience. More than 140 members of McDermott’s intellectual property team hold technical and/or scientific degrees and more than 100 are registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). McDermott’s Intellectual Property practice includes numerous lawyers with valuable industry experience as well as former USPTO examiners and petition specialists.

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