MOVERS & SHAKERS
Who's hiring and who's moving
Finnegan appoints partner as D&I lead
Law firm Finnegan has announced that partner Scott Burwell has been appointed as the firm’s partner-in-charge of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
In this role, he will work closely with the firm’s chief diversity and inclusion (D&I) officer and firm leadership to recruit, retain, and promote diverse talent and to advance D&I goals in client services and external collaborations.
Burwell recently concluded his term on the firm’s management committee, and has been heavily involved in D&I initiatives within the firm through his current involvement as co-chair of the firm’s alumni committee and in the firm’s Finnegan IP University programme, as well as through his previous role as the hiring partner for Finnegan’s Washington, DC, and Reston office.
In an article for WIPR, “A catalyst for action”, he noted that “the rate of attrition among minority attorneys is disproportionately high, which then results in even greater under-representation of Black and Hispanic attorneys at the senior associate and partner levels of law firms”.
Burwell also pointed out that “clients have become a key driver in achieving law firm diversity, particularly if they insist upon greater representation of Black and Hispanic lawyers among their outside counsel”.
“D&I is an integral part of Finnegan’s culture and I take pride in working with the firm to establish and facilitate efforts that provide an inclusive workplace environment.”
Scott Burwell
Commenting on his recent appointment, he said: “D&I is an integral part of Finnegan’s culture and I take pride in working with the firm to establish and facilitate efforts that provide an inclusive workplace environment. This does not start or end with recruitment, but is embedded in our approach to pipeline development in science, tech, engineering and maths, recruiting, mentoring, development, advancement, retention, and innovating with our clients,” said Burwell.
He is a first-chair litigator, focusing primarily on Hatch-Waxman litigations, and for more than 25 years, he has represented pharmaceutical companies on matters involving blockbuster drugs such as Zyprexa, Evista, Strattera, and Enbrel.
He is also listed in LMG Life Sciences as an ‘Intellectual Property: Life Sciences Star’. Since 2007, Burwell has been an adjunct professor at Howard University School of Law, teaching patent law and public policy courses.
“We are excited for Scott to take on this role,” said Finnegan’s managing partner, Erika Arner. “His contributions to the firm and diverse perspectives have been invaluable in helping to advance our D&I initiatives.”
EIP launches regional hub in Sweden
Patent law firm EIP is expanding its presence in Scandinavia by opening in Sweden.
It is the firm’s first Nordic office, and the move is aimed at bringing the firm closer to its existing clients across the region and to facilitate further expansion.
Denmark, Finland and Sweden are all in the top five of countries with the most patent applications per capita, according to statistics from the European Patent Office.
Ensuring it has an on-the-ground presence in the Nordics is a strategic move given the region’s highly intensive patenting landscape, according to a media statement from EIP.
The new Sweden office will be led by experienced patent attorney Inga-Lill Andersson. Andersson has a background in chemistry and biotech and joins from AWA, where she headed the chemistry team in Stockholm before taking on the role as business area manager for North Sweden.
Magnus Hallin, CEO of EIP, commented on the new office.
“The expansion into Sweden is fantastic news as it gives us a base in the Nordics from which to support our existing clients in the region and also welcome new clients in the future.
“This expansion shows EIP’s commitment to growth in highly innovative countries where patents are core to development.”
Magnus Hallin
“This expansion shows EIP’s commitment to growth in highly innovative countries where patents are core to development. Sweden is a hub for talent, and I am delighted that EIP will now have a base in the region from which to grow.”
EIP has hired digital expert Daniel Enetoft, who was previously CEO at a deep tech company developing artificial intelligence (AI) products and brings with him extensive experience of both private practice and working in-house. Enetoft is based in the Lund/Malmö area of Sweden where he will work, as well as working from EIP’s Stockholm office.
Andersson said: “Myself and the rest of EIP’s new Sweden team are excited to be part of this new venture and are thrilled to be joining at such an exciting time for Swedish innovation across various sectors.
“We hope that we will contribute to EIP’s development more widely, and also look forward to expanding our horizons internationally and bringing our combined expertise to clients, both existing and new.”
US firm adds partner to Minneapolis electrical practice
Merchant & Gould has hired Daniel Bruzzone as a partner in its Electrical Practice Group.
Bruzzone, who was previously a partner at a Minneapolis-based firm Patterson Thuente IP, brings more than a decade of experience in patent development, drafting, patent prosecution, filing strategy, and trademark litigation strategy to his new role.
He has particular experience in semiconductors, medical devices, pharmaceutical and consumer products, optical systems, networks, software, and data security.
“As a skilled and passionate attorney, Dan is an excellent addition to Merchant & Gould. He brings relevant experience to a variety of innovative industries, guiding clients through complex situations and giving them strategic counselling. We are excited to have Dan join us,” said Merchant & Gould CEO and managing director, Christopher Leonard.
“As a skilled and passionate attorney, Dan is an excellent addition to Merchant & Gould. He brings relevant experience to a variety of innovative industries.”
Christopher Leonard
As a physicist and engineer, Bruzzone began working in patent law while involved in product development at 3M from 2005-2011. After then, he graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in Minneapolis and began work as an attorney in the city.
Bruzzone is active in the Minneapolis community, both personally and professionally. He has been recognised by the Minnesota State Bar Association as a “North Star Lawyer” for his pro bono service to people of low income for no fee, since 2016.
Merchant & Gould is a US intellectual property firm with approximately 90 attorneys in offices in Minneapolis; Denver; New York; DC Area; Los Angeles; Atlanta; and Knoxville, Tennessee.
Squire Patton Boggs expands global trademark team
Trademark partner Candice Kwok has joined Squire Patton Boggs’ global IP and technology practice in Palo Alto in California from the Singapore office of IP firm Marks & Clerk.
With more than 20 years of experience, Kwok specialises in international trademark portfolio strategy and regularly acts for clients in commencing and defending trademarks in opposition, revocation or invalidation proceedings.
Her practice includes trademark clearance, filing and prosecuting trademark applications, advising clients on global branding strategies, development and protection of brand names, trademark dilution prevention and rebranding.
“Candice brings vast experience managing international trademark portfolios, particularly around and across the Pacific Rim,” said David Elkins, global IP and technology practice group leader.
“Being at a full-service firm like Squire Patton Boggs, with specialists in every field, will enable me to devise and execute strategies to efficiently achieve my clients’ business goals.”
Candice Kwok
“I’ve known Candice for quite some time and worked directly with her on multinational trademark litigation. She’s naturally collaborative and with an international perspective that fits perfectly with our global team.”
Commenting on her move, Kwok said, “Squire Patton Boggs’ extensive international practice and culture encourages collaboration, and are big draws that will allow me to explore new business opportunities with my colleagues.
“Being at a full-service firm like Squire Patton Boggs, with specialists in every field, will enable me to devise and execute strategies to efficiently achieve my clients’ business goals.”
A Singapore native and fluent English, Mandarin and Cantonese speaker, Kwok was admitted in 2000 to the Supreme Court of Singapore and has been licensed to practice in California since 2010.
USPTO announces new deputy director
The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced the appointment of Derrick Brent as deputy director.
In his new role, effective from August 1, Brent will serve as principal advisor to USPTO under secretary of commerce for intellectual property and director Kathi Vidal, managing a wide portfolio of programmes and operations.
His responsibilities include working with Vidal to lead the USPTO, advance IP policy and procedures, expand the USPTO’s outreach efforts to incentivise and support more innovation and entrepreneurship nationwide, and execute the agency’s policies, priorities, and programmes.
Gina M Raimondo, US secretary of commerce, and director Vidal, made the announcement on July 28.
“I am thrilled to welcome Derrick to America’s Innovation Agency,” said Vidal.
“Derrick’s wide and deep experience in intellectual property, policy, government, and industry will serve the agency well. His work in the private and public sectors, working with a wide range of IP constituencies in different industries across the country, from Georgia to Ohio to California, and fighting for civil rights and the rights of the under-resourced and underrepresented, will undoubtedly lift this agency to new heights.
“I am excited to partner with Derrick to expand innovation throughout our country and bring more of it to impact.”
Brent, whose full title will be deputy under secretary of commerce for intellectual property and deputy director, said: “It is an honour and a privilege to be asked to serve by secretary Raimondo and director Vidal,” said Brent. “I look forward to adding my hard work and skills to the dedicated team at the USPTO.
“Together, we will continue to advance and expand American innovation, across the country and the world.”
‘Significant’ IP law experience
Brent’s career spans public service and private sector work, including “significant” experience in IP law and work to assist start-ups as well as those who are underrepresented in the IP community.
“Together, we will continue to advance and expand American innovation, across the country and the world.”
Derrick Brent
He served for six years as chief counsel for California Senator Barbara Boxer, where his portfolio included IP and constitutional issues, civil rights, telecommunications, and judicial nominations.
He worked closely with the IP community in the Senator’s home state and across the country, including with prior USPTO directors and experts.
Brent has served in all three branches of the federal government: executive, legislative, and judicial. In addition to his work as a chief counsel in the US Senate, he clerked for the Hon. Algenon L Marbley, chief judge of the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
After litigating at the law firm Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease in Ohio, he served six years as a senior trial attorney at the US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, where he received a Special Achievement Award for his trial work.
Private sector work
Most recently, Brent worked as a consultant, advising start-ups on a variety of IP, operations, strategy, analytics, and risk mitigation issues in many functional areas.
Prior to joining the USPTO, he was on the leadership team of Cut Golf, an early-stage golf equipment and apparel company. He provided counsel, analysis, and project management to the founders on a variety of matters, including IP, contracts, marketing/advertising, business development, design/performance analysis, and supply chain management.
Before becoming a lawyer, Brent worked for General Motors as an engineer with the Powertrain Division, managing the engineering and business activities for multiple subcontracted manufacturing facilities across the country. His remit included product design, new product validation, production processes and improvements, testing, inventory, and budgets.
Brent received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from The Ohio State University and a Juris Doctor degree from the Northwestern University School of Law (now the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law).
