Steptoe Continues Rapid Growth of IP Practice - John V. Hanley Joins as Partner

For more information, contact Jamie Moss, newsPRos, 201-493-1027

(September 11, 2007, Los Angeles, CA) – Steptoe & Johnson LLP, a leading international law firm, has announced the addition of John V. Hanley, a 15-year veteran patent prosecution and litigation attorney from Fulwider Patton LLP in Los Angeles, as the newest partner in its rapidly expanding national intellectual property practice.

Mr. Hanley will be working in the firm’s Century City office.  He is the 10th attorney to join Steptoe’s IP group in Century City since the firm opened this office in July 2006.

"John is an important addition to our national medical devices patent practice," said Alfred Mamlet, Steptoe’s firmwide IP Practice Group Leader.  "He brings fifteen years of experience providing sophisticated counseling and portfolio management advice to leading medical device companies to Steptoe and its clients.  We welcome him to the firm and to our growing IP group."

Mr. Hanley’s practice focuses on the prosecution and litigation of patents across a broad range of technologies including mechanical and electro-mechanical arts, optics, and the medical sciences.  His extensive experience extends to conducting patent clearance studies and rendering opinions concerning patent validity and infringement.  

"Medical device patent prosecution is a much-in-demand specialty today and John’s experience in this area will be of significant benefit to many of the firm’s clients." said Robert Kovelman, a partner in the Century City IP practice. "John and I previously practiced together earlier in our careers and we are both looking forward to working together again."  After receiving his undergraduate degree in Applied Mechanics and Engineering Sciences from the University of California at San Diego in 1985, Mr. Hanley earned an M.B.A from California State Polytechnic University in 1990 and his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1992. Before he became an attorney, Mr. Hanley utilized his expertise in electro-mechanical, optical, chemical and computer technologies as an engineer and project manager for a leading manufacturer of automated medical devices.

"I look forward to the enormous opportunity to expand my practice at this highly regarded full-service international law firm," said Mr. Hanley. "Steptoe has an international reputation as a leading firm with a top IP practice, and I am looking forward to contributing to the further expansion of this prominent group of exceptional lawyers. I know many of my clients will be pleased to have the breadth of legal services available to them that Steptoe can provide."

Steptoe’s national IP practice has grown to more than 60 lawyers.  In addition to Mr. Hanley, the firm’s Intellectual Property group in Southern California includes partners Michelle A. Cooke, Bec Edelson, Mike Heimbold, and Mr. Kovelman.  Mr. Hanley and Mr. Kovelman were former colleagues at Fulwider Patton LLP, Los Angeles, where Mr. Hanley was most recently a partner.

With the arrival of Mr. Hanley, the Century City office now includes 25 attorneys.  The firm’s practice concentrations in Century City include labor and employment, trade secret and general business litigation, intellectual property prosecution and counseling, trademark prosecution and counseling, entertainment litigation, corporate transactions and mergers and acquisitions. 

“John is a great addition to the Century City office and will further diversify the IP group in Southern California,” said Roger Warin, Steptoe’s Chairman. “John’s experience in counseling clients from Fortune 500 corporations to entrepreneurial start-ups and universities on a range of matters, including patents,  trademarks, copyrights and licensing adds greater depth to our practice in California and expands our national intellectual property practice.” 

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About Steptoe & Johnson LLP
With more than 450 attorneys, Steptoe & Johnson LLP provides counsel and representation in a wide range of legal fields. In more than 60 years of practice, the firm has gained a national and international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in guiding business transactions. The firm has offices in Washington, New York, Chicago, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Century City, London, and Brussels.