Overview
CHICAGO (February 4, 2014) – International law firm McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to welcome three leading intellectual property partners to the Firm’s Chicago office. The group is led by Michael Chu, who will be joined by David Bluestone and Justin Rand. This new team of partners will add depth to the Firm’s worldwide IP practice while particularly strengthening the Firm’s expanding IP practice in Asia.
Prior to joining McDermott, Mssrs. Chu, Bluestone and Rand worked together at a boutique intellectual property law firm in Chicago. They have operated as a team for over twelve years while becoming well-known for their quality of work and success in the practice of IP litigation and prosecution. The team is joining McDermott to expand their practice and diversify client relationships within the Firm’s IP practice both in the United States and Asia.
“Michael, David and Justin will be a terrific addition to our IP team,” said Sarah Chapin Columbia, partner and head of McDermott’s international Intellectual Property Litigation practice. “Their desire to work across a more fully-integrated legal platform, together with McDermott’s focus on expanding our growing practices representing clients in China, Japan and Korea, mesh perfectly. There is so much we can accomplish together for the benefit of our clients.”
“This distinguished team of IP specialists will add important expertise and experience to our growing Chicago IP practice,” added Mark J. Itri, partner and head of the Firm’s international IP Prosecution, Transactions and Strategy Practice Group. “Together, they will help to lead the Firm’s work in strategically important patent prosecution and transactional matters, such as product portfolio analysis and management. We’re very glad to have them aboard.”
As the leader of the incoming team, Michael Chu is a seasoned practitioner with broad and deep connections in Asia, particularly China. During his career he has developed significant client relationships with numerous Asian companies, and he will contribute to the Firm’s dedicated efforts to expand opportunities in Asia through his well-established networks. Mr. Chu’s litigation experience includes all aspects of complex patent cases, ITC investigations, alternative dispute resolution, multidistrict litigation and appellate practice before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Chu has deep experience with patent and trademark prosecution, licensing and strategic IP portfolio development.
David Bluestone has worked with Mr. Chu for many years as an integral team member on several litigation matters. Mr. Bluestone’s experience focuses on patent litigation in federal court cases, ITC investigations and patent office review of issued patents. He has worked on matters across multiple jurisdictions and relating to a wide range of technologies, including: smartphones, computer software, biomedical devices, hearing instruments, wireless telephony, internet gaming, signal processing, valves, mechanical assemblies, green technology, vehicle navigation systems, plastics, office seating, internet-based applications and electronic monitoring systems.
Justin Rand rounds out the incoming team with a focus on all aspects of patent prosecution and counseling in the mechanical and biological fields. Mr. Rand counsels clients on contractual and licensing issues as well as product portfolio analysis and management.
Mr. Chu received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois and his J.D. from the College of William and Mary. David Bluestone received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois and his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law. Justin Rand received his B.S. in Biology from Indiana University and his J.D. from Boston University School of Law.
With more than 200 lawyers and patent agents around the world, McDermott’s Intellectual Property practice is renowned for its broad trial, appellate, prosecution and transaction experience. Members of the practice hold degrees in a wide variety of technical fields and are uniquely capable of handling intellectual property matters in virtually every technical or scientific discipline. For example, 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.
About McDermott Will & Emery
McDermott Will & Emery is a premier international law firm with a diversified business practice. Numbering more than 1,100 lawyers, we have offices in Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Milan, Munich, New York, Orange County, Paris, Rome, Seoul, Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C. Further extending our reach into Asia, we have a strategic alliance with MWE China Law Offices in Shanghai.
