Fish & Richardson Elevates 14 Attorneys to Principal

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwired - Jan 19, 2016) - Fish & Richardson today announced that 14 attorneys have been named principals at the firm. The new principals in the firm's Intellectual Property (IP) Litigation Group are: Ajit Dang and Ben Thompson (Atlanta); Caroline Simons (Boston); Michael Bittner (Dallas); Elizabeth Flanagan and Robert Oakes (Delaware); John Brinkmann, Michael Rueckheim, and Brian Strand (Houston); Jason Zucchi (Twin Cities); and Adam Shartzer and Kevin Wheeler (Washington, D.C.). The new principals in the Patent Group are Frank Gerratana and Dr. Peter Poulin (Boston).

Michael Bittner continues his IP litigation practice with an emphasis on patent litigation in a variety of different technologies. He has extensive experience managing patent cases and leading joint defense groups in the Eastern District of Texas, including the largest in the district's history. He received his J.D., honors, from the University of Texas at Austin Law School in 2008 and his B.A., with high honors, Phi Beta Kappa, in history and humanities from the University of Texas in 2003.

John Brinkmann specializes in representing the world's leading technology and semiconductor companies in extremely complex, high-stakes cases in federal courts and at the U.S. International Trade Commission. He received his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in 2009 and his Master of Electrical Engineering (M.E.E., 2002) and B.S. in electrical engineering (2000) from Rice University.

Ajit Dang focuses his practice on patent litigation and licensing. He has experience litigating patents covering a diverse range of technologies at the U.S. International Trade Commission and in federal courts across the country. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, from the University of Miami School of Law in 2008 and his B.S. in computer science from Stetson University in 2005.

Elizabeth Flanagan continues to focus her practice on patent litigation. As a member of the firm's pharmaceutical litigation group, she has worked on a variety of Hatch-Waxman and life sciences cases. She has experience in all phases of litigation, including pre-filing practice, discovery, trial, post-trial, and appeals. She received her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2008 and her B.A., with distinction in all subjects, in chemistry from Cornell University in 2003.

Frank Gerratana continues to focus his practice on developing patent portfolios in the technology areas of electronics, computer software & hardware, and medical devices. He received his J.D. from the American University Washington College of Law in 2008, and his M.S. in computer science (2005) and B.S., with high distinction, in electrical engineering and computer science (2004) from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is also chair of the New Lawyers Committee of the American Intellectual Property Law Association.

Robert Oakes continues to focus his practice on patent litigation across a full range of technologies. He has significant experience drafting and negotiating IP licenses and advising clients regarding freedom to operate. He received his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2008, his M.S. in biology from Kansas State University in 2003, and his B.S. in biology from Emory University in 2001.

Dr. Peter Poulin continues his patent prosecution and strategic development practice in a variety of technology areas, with an emphasis on spectroscopy, bio-imaging, semiconductor microlithography, and electrical power systems. He received his J.D. from the Boston University School of Law in 2011, his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2005, his M.S. in physical chemistry from the University of Toronto in 1998, and his B.S., with honors, in chemistry from the University of Western Ontario in 1996.

Michael Rueckheim has represented some of the world's leading technology companies in high-stakes disputes across the country, including in the Eastern, Western, and Northern Districts of Texas, the Northern Districts of California and Illinois, the Districts of Delaware and New Jersey, and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. He will continue to focus his practice on complex patent litigation and inter partes review proceedings involving a wide variety of technical fields. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, from the Washington University School of Law in 2008 and his B.S. in biochemistry from the University of Texas in 2000.

Adam Shartzer continues to focus his practice on complex trial litigation and appeals across a number of technologies. In addition, he advises clients regarding strategic use of post-grant proceedings within the context of active litigations. He received his J.D., with honors, from George Washington University Law School in 2008 and his B.S. in electrical engineering with a computer science minor from the University of Virginia in 2003.

Caroline Simons continues to represent and advise clients in the areas of government and internal investigations, white collar defense, complex commercial litigation, and cybersecurity. She received her J.D. from Columbia University Law School in 2008 and her A.B., cum laude, in government from Harvard University in 2004.

Brian Strand focuses his practice on complex patent litigation and appeals. With an extensive technical background, he has handled matters involving a wide array of software and hardware technologies in a variety of jurisdictions across the country. He received his J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 2008 and his B.S., with distinction, in electrical engineering technology from Purdue University in 1997.

Ben Thompson continues his patent litigation practice involving various technologies, including computer network security and encryption. He has handled litigation in various federal district courts and at the U.S. International Trade Commission, as well as appeals to the Federal Circuit. He received his J.D., with honors, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law in 2008 and his B.S., cum laude, in computer science engineering from North Carolina State University in 2002.

Kevin Wheeler continues a national trial practice that focuses on resolving high-stake patent infringement disputes for some of the world's most well-known technology companies. With extensive experience before the U.S. International Trade Commission and federal district courts throughout the country, his practice spans high technology litigation in a vast number of industries. He received his J.D. from George Washington University Law School in 2008 and his B.S., university honors, in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland in 2004.

Jason Zucchi continues his IP practice with an emphasis on patent litigation and antitrust cases in courts throughout the United States. He has significant experience in a wide variety of technologies, including GPS and mobile app technologies, telecommunications, micro-electronics, telematics, mobile payments, VoIP, and medical devices. He also advises clients on the licensing of their IP and patenting strategies. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2007 and his B.S. in behavioral science, law, and psychology from the University of Wisconsin in 2002.

Fish & Richardson is a global patent, intellectual property (IP) litigation, and commercial litigation law firm with more than 400 attorneys and technology specialists across the U.S. and Europe. Fish has been named the #1 patent litigation firm in the U.S. for 12 consecutive years. Fish has been winning cases worth billions in controversy -- often by making new law -- for the most innovative clients and influential industry leaders since 1878. For more information, visit www.fr.com.