Banner & Witcoff, Ltd., a national intellectual property law firm that procures, enforces and litigates intellectual property rights throughout the world, announces the election of a firm president and three shareholders, and the arrival of eight attorneys.
- Gary D. Fedorochko, Elected, President, joined the firm in 1993 and has been practicing law for more than 20 years. Mr. Fedorochko focuses on counseling clients in connection with procuring, managing and enforcing intellectual property rights. His practice also includes preparing and prosecuting patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and patent litigation. Mr. Fedorochko earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer and systems engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He earned his Juris Doctor from The George Washington University School of Law. Mr. Fedorochko practices in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office.
- Shawn P. Gorman, Elected, Principal Shareholder, Chicago, joined the firm in 2004. Mr. Gorman prepares and prosecutes patent applications in a variety of technology areas, including the electronic arts, business methods, mechanics and biotechnology. He also handles various contentious matters, including patent reexamination proceedings and technical aspects of litigation. Prior to joining Banner & Witcoff, Mr. Gorman worked in the patent division of CIBA Vision. He earned both his Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Florida. He earned his Juris Doctor from the Franklin Pierce Law Center.
- Chunhsi Andy Mu, Elected, Principal Shareholder, Washington, D.C., joined the firm in 2005. Mr. Mu’s practice focuses on patent procurement, opinions, counseling and portfolio management. He has experience in a range of technical fields, including Internet technologies, e-commerce, business methods, telecommunications, electronics, mechanical systems and computer software. Prior to law school, Mr. Mu worked with various divisions at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in computer science and mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland and his Juris Doctor from The George Washington University Law School.
- Benjamin C. Spehlmann, Elected, Principal Shareholder, Washington, D.C., joined the firm as a patent agent in 2001 and as an associate in 2004. Mr. Spehlmann’s practice focuses on client counseling, patent drafting and prosecution, and opinion work in the chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology arts. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration degree, with distinction, from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. He earned his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.
Banner & Witcoff welcomes the following new attorneys:
- Dargaye Churnet, Associate (Chicago), Patent litigation and prosecution, and opinion counseling; B.S.E. in electrical and computer engineering, Duke University; J.D., Northwestern University School of Law.
- Christopher Dawson, Associate (Washington, D.C.); patent prosecution, litigation and counseling; B.S. in mechanical engineering, cum laude, and M.B.A., Kansas State University; J.D., with highest honors, George Washington University.
- Brian J. Emfinger, Associate (Chicago); patent prosecution and litigation; B.S. in computer science, with highest honors, Georgia Institute of Technology; J.D., IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law.
- Viresh Patel, Associate (Washington, D.C.); patent prosecution; B.S. in computer science, University of Florida; J.D., The George Washington University Law School.
- Ryan Truesdale, Associate (Chicago); patent prosecution and litigation, and trademark litigation; B.S. in physics, University of Notre Dame; J.D., University of Chicago Law School.
- William E. Wooten, Associate (Washington, D.C.); patent prosecution, litigation and counseling; B.S. in computer science, summa cum laude, North Carolina State University; J.D., with honors, University of North Carolina School of Law.
Banner & Witcoff also welcomes two returning attorneys:
- Elizabeth A. Almeter, Of Counsel (Washington, D.C.); utility and design patent prosecution and litigation; B.S. in mechanical engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology; J.D., cum laude, SUNY Buffalo Law School.
- Rajit Kapur, Associate (Washington, D.C.); patent prosecution, litigation and counseling; B.S. in mechanical engineering, magna cum laude, Tufts University; J.D., The George Washington University Law School.
Please direct all media inquiries to Amanda Robert at (312) 463-5465 or arobert@bannerwitcoff.com.
Posted: February 5, 2013