Banner & Witcoff, Ltd., a national intellectual property law firm that procures, enforces and litigates intellectual property rights throughout the world, welcomed five new associates in the first half of 2018.
Liz Brodzinski, Chicago, focuses her practice on trademark, copyright and new media matters. She has experience in U.S. and global trademark portfolio management, including clearance, prosecution and enforcement. She is also experienced in dealing with cybersquatting and online infringement matters, including preparing successful social media takedowns, achieving transfer of infringing domain names pursuant to the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy and participating in disputes involving the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act.
She earned her B.S., magna cum laude, in International Business and International Studies and minor in Spanish from Saint Louis University. She earned her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
Derek Donahoe, Boston, focuses his practice on preparing and prosecuting patent applications, and providing strategic advice on the management of both United States and international patent portfolios for many Fortune 500 companies. This includes all phases of drafting and prosecuting complex patent applications in a variety of technical fields, including networking technology, multi-core processing, e-commerce, alternative energy, internet-related technology, software, and wireless/satellite communications.
Prior to his legal career, Derek worked as an electrical engineer for the Naval Research Laboratory and MCI/Worldcom, gaining extensive experience in networking and signaling technologies for one of the largest telecommunications networks in the world and the United States Navy.
He earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Utah State University and his J.D. from the Sturm College of Law of the University of Denver.
Apurv Gaurav, Washington, D.C., focuses his practice on patent procurement, prosecution, post-grant proceedings and litigation, in a broad spectrum of technologies, including wireless communications, medical imaging and devices, electrical and electronic devices, financial technology, smart wireless connectivity, computer hardware and software, bio sensors, renewable energy generators, and energy efficient appliances.
Prior to joining Banner & Witcoff, Apurv worked as an attorney for another patent boutique firm in Washington, D.C. He has also been named as an inventor on a patent application for an improved solar-LED system adapted for commercial lighting.
He earned his B.A. in Molecular & Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley; M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University; and J.D. from Boston College.
Novaira Paul, Chicago, focuses her practice on trademark matters, including litigation, oppositions and cancellations.
Prior to law school, Novaira worked as a litigation paralegal at a medical malpractice defense firm. She also started her own photography business, which ultimately inspired her to pursue a career in intellectual property law.
She earned her B.A., magna cum laude, in International Business from San Diego State University and her J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.
Samuel P. Richey, Chicago, focuses his practice on developing and maintaining patent portfolios for his clients along with advising his clients on transactional matters and providing technical opinions relating to potential infringement and validity issues. He has extensive experience with a variety of technologies in the computer software, electrical, and mechanical domains, and he specializes in distributed systems, cloud computing, targeted advertising, vehicle telematics, video encoding and distribution, image processing, digital communications, power amplifiers, and dive equipment.
Before embarking on his legal career, Samuel worked as a software engineer and consultant at companies ranging from startups to Fortune 100 firms. Prior to joining Banner & Witcoff, he was a partner at a patent boutique in Southern California and served as an adjunct professor.
He earned his B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law.
About Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.
A national intellectual property law firm with more than 110 attorneys and nearly 100 years of practice, Banner & Witcoff provides legal counsel and representation to the world’s most innovative companies. Our attorneys have the breadth of experience and insight needed to handle complex intellectual property applications, as well as handle and resolve difficult disputes and business challenges for clients across all industries and geographic boundaries. For more information, visit http://www.bannerwitcoff.com/.
Please direct all media inquiries to Amanda Robert at (312) 463-5465 or arobert@bannerwitcoff.com.
Posted: August 2, 2018
