- MMM adds 11 attorneys and patent agents, and 7 staff members to broaden D.C. office
- Launches Government Contracts Practice Group, acquiring 2 seasoned attorneys
- Expands Intellectual Property Practice Group, adding 6 members
- Firm’s growth underscores gains in revenue, jumping 8.4% to $129.8M from 2016
- Net income increased 12.6% to $49.7M in 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 5, 2018) – Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP (MMM), a full service AmLaw 200 firm with national and international reach, has added 11 attorneys and agents and seven staff members to its D.C. office, as well as launched its new Government Contracts Practice Group. The additions include: intellectual property attorneys Drs. Ping Wang, Michael Ye and John Murray and patent agents Drs. Peter Brunovskis, Qiang Li, and F. Pierre VanderVegt; government contracts attorneys Andrew Mohr and C. Kelly Kroll; Special Counsel William Barringer and Associate Luke Engan join the International Trade Practice Group; and Associate Curtis Arnold joins the Litigation Practice Group. MMM’s D.C. office has quadrupled in size and grown to more than 30 lawyers in the last five years. Since 1992, the office has evolved from a small satellite outpost to a full service office and a major focus for growth at MMM. The new IP and Government Contracts teams will join established practices in the areas of insurance, real estate, litigation, funds, tax and international trade.
“We’re continuously seeking ways to broaden our capabilities to better serve our clients, and the firm is focused on finding the right partners and practices to add to our depth,” said Managing Partner Louise Wells. “We knew we wanted to build our IP practice and add government contracts. The new attorneys will help us to better serve clients not only in D.C., but nationally and internationally, and we are excited to have them join our incredible team.”
The Intellectual Property Group adds depth and breadth to MMM’s IP Practice Group and consists of Partners Ping Wang, M.D. and Michael Ye, Ph.D., Of Counsel John Murray, Ph.D., and Patent Agents Peter Brunovskis, Ph.D., Qiang Li, Ph.D., and F. Pierre VanderVegt, Ph.D., who were formerly with Andrews Kurth Kenyon. Led by Dr. Wang, they focus on all aspects of intellectual property law, including patent litigation and prosecution, international trade commission proceedings, trademark/trade dress/unfair competition litigation, copyright litigation, trade secrets litigation, cease and desist letters and injunctions, as well as DMCA takedowns. The group also counsels clients on how to monetize and commercialize their patents across various fields including energy, construction and military. Interestingly, Dr. Wang worked at MMM almost a decade ago, prior to joining Andrews Kurth Kenyon.
“Returning to MMM was the best decision for our team. The strength and breadth of the firm’s services, along with its flexible, collaborative environment allows us to better serve our clients,” said Dr. Wang. “With today’s ever-evolving environment and the constant change in market demand, MMM’s business model allows us to shift and accommodate to client needs and to deliver quality work without the rigidness of big law firms. Their approach to attract top talent provides an efficient and focused environment.”
Dr. Wang has prosecuted thousands of patents worldwide and obtained hundreds of issued patents for her clients. She also handles inter partes review proceedings with the USPTO as well as the ITC. Dr. Wang regularly advises clients on licensing negotiation deals. She was named among the world’s leading patent practitioners in IAM Patent 1000, the top worldwide guide to leading patent professionals and firms, for six consecutive years in both Business Transactions and Patent Prosecution categories. Dr. Wang was also named among the top 500 lawyers in US Legal 500.
Dr. Ye focuses particularly in the fields of biotechnology, chemistry, bioinformatics, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, working directly with inventors and in-house counsel to draft and prosecute patent applications and engages in the preparation of patentability, validity and related opinions. Dr. Ye has extensive experience in the licensing negotiation deals. Prior to obtaining his J.D. he was an assistant professor at the Children’s National Medical Center in D.C. Of Counsel Dr. Murray has particular experience in Hatch-Waxman litigation, inter partes review proceedings with the USPTO and the ITC, as well as patent prosecution in the fields of biotechnology and medical device prosecution. Dr. Murray also has extensive experience in generic pharmaceuticals opinion work.
In addition to representing universities, research institutions and small- to mid-sized biotech companies in hundreds of transactions, the IP practice group works extensively with Chinese and European businesses.
The Government Contracts Practice Group, Partner Andrew Mohr and Of Counsel C. Kelly Kroll, were formerly with Cohen Mohr LLP. The team focuses their practice on federal, state, and local procurement, administrative and contract law, and represents clients who provide high technology goods and services to all levels of the government. The group also has clients in a wide range of industries, including: cybersecurity; defense and aerospace; healthcare and life sciences; homeland security; manufacturing; information technology; leasing; office and video equipment; technology; and telecommunications.
Mohr has nearly four decades of government contract experience from analysis of the risks associated with entering the market to the issues arising during the solicitation, award, performance and completion of government contracts. Kroll is a seasoned veteran in the government contracts space, bringing experience in GSA Schedules, audits, subcontracts, teaming arrangements, Joint Venture agreements, and more.
“Morris, Manning & Martin is a vibrant, dynamic firm with an expanding practice, and we are eager to contribute to that expansion with the formation of the Government Contracts Practice Group,” said Andrew Mohr. “The firm also has a growing corporate and technology practice, which enables us to better serve clients.”
The International Trade Practice Group adds Special Counsel William Barringer. Barringer brings more than 30 years of experience and counsels clients in trade remedy investigations, bilateral disputes, disputes arising under free trade agreements and disputes under the World Trade Organization dispute settlement mechanism.
Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP has earned high national and metropolitan rankings including Chambers & Partners, U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” and others. The firm currently has five offices located throughout the United States.
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Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP is a full service AmLaw 200 firm with national and international reach. Founded in 1976, the firm has grown into one of the leading real estate, hospitality, corporate, litigation, technology, healthcare, environmental, finance, insurance, energy and intellectual property firms in the U.S. The firm has more than 180 attorneys with offices in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Raleigh-Durham, Savannah and Columbus. Visit our website at www.mmmlaw.com for more information.
Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP
1401 Eye Street, N.W., Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20005
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