Firm’s National Intellectual Property Division Recognized for Patent Work on Both Coasts, Practitioners Celebrated for Technical Expertise, Client Service, and More

Mintz is pleased to announce that it was identified as a leading firm for patent litigation in the Massachusetts market and patent prosecution in the California market in the ninth edition of IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals. In addition, ten Members in Mintz’s nationally renowned Intellectual Property Division were individually ranked as leaders for patent litigation, prosecution, and transactions. The unique annual guide identifies the top patent professionals in key jurisdictions around the globe.

The Mintz Intellectual Property Division consists of more than 125 attorneys, patent agents, and technical advisors who handle the full range of IP services for its clients, including patent litigation and prosecution, trade secrets counseling and litigation, trademark registration and litigation, and technology transactions. The team represents companies, academic and research institutions, and individuals innovating in technology-driven industries, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, automotive, data management and analytics, and many more. More than 30 of the firm’s patent professionals hold PhDs in a spectrum of technical fields, including computer science, electrical engineering, biology, microbiology, and organic chemistry.

Regarding Mintz’s reputation in the Massachusetts market for patent litigation, IAM Patent 1000 noted that “Mintz lights up the patent litigation scene by its deft handling of globally relevant, high-impact cases in the semiconductor foundry, microprocessor and circuit technology arenas, breaking new ground on issues such as standard essentiality.”

Regarding Mintz’s reputation in the California market for patent prosecution, IAM Patent 1000 noted that “when it comes to building patent portfolios and developing and implementing strategies that maximize their value, Mintz is world-class.”

The following Mintz IP practitioners were recognized for patent litigation, prosecution, and transactions in this year’s edition of the IAM Patent 1000:

Litigation and Transactions:

• Mintz Member and Chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Division Michael T. Renaud is an experienced litigator and the central tactician in developing and implementing multinational enforcement, licensing, and litigation strategies for global corporations. Mr. Renaud helps clients realize significant value by identifying patent assets which can be enforced to protect clients’ competitive positions and generate licensing revenue. He also represents clients accused of infringement, and his success in these matters is informed by his full understanding of how plaintiff cases are developed and, in turn, how to strategically attack them. Recognized in 2021 for prowess in both litigation and transactions, regarding Mr. Renaud, IAM Patent 1000 pointed to his stunning results at the International Trade Commission (ITC) for clients such as GlobalFoundries and noted that he has an “incredibly effective ability to orchestrate multi-pronged litigation campaigns that extend into foreign jurisdictions such as Germany and China,” along with other outstanding market feedback. Additionally, the guide included an interviewee’s remark that Mr. Renaud “sees the potential for monetization in a portfolio and leverages a detailed understanding of broader industry issues that makes him the ideal partner for the C-suite.” Mr. Renaud also appears in IAM’s Strategy 300 and Strategy 300 Global Leaders guide, among other prestigious IP practitioner rankings.

Litigation:

• Mintz Member Thomas H. Wintner is an intellectual property and commercial litigator who is equally at home handling cases in trial and appellate courts, as well as in arbitration. He has extensive experience with patent litigation, trade secrets, and other intellectual property matters, especially in the life sciences. Mr. Wintner also has extensive experience with non-IP commercial litigation matters on behalf of life sciences, health care, higher education, and real estate clients. Regarding Mr. Wintner, IAM Patent 1000 noted that he “shines in trial courts, at the Federal Circuit, at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and in arbitral forums, with a talent for complex pharmaceutical and biotechnology litigations.”
   
• Mintz Member James Wodarski is a seasoned trial lawyer who concentrates his practice on IP litigation. He skillfully represents clients in in federal and state courts nationwide, the ITC, and U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal, including the Federal Circuit. Mr. Wodarski handles disputes involving smartphones, core processor circuits, digital imaging software, telecommunications devices, LED lighting systems, medical devices, and many other technologies. He is a well-respected voice in the worldwide dialogue concerning standard essential patents (SEP)s and the rapidly evolving landscape of global competition and patent law that impacts SEP value and licensing opportunities. Regarding Mr. Wodarski, IAM Patent 1000 noted that he is a “leading light on SEPs” and “brings the heat in ITC matters.” Mr. Wodarski also appears in IAM’s Strategy 300 and Strategy 300 Global Leaders guide.

Prosecution:

• Mintz Member Lisa Adams is an esteemed intellectual property attorney whose practice encompasses all areas of intellectual property. She advises clients on a wide range of IP matters including strategic patent portfolio development, clearance to market analyses, acquisitions, diligence, and post-grant proceedings at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Start-ups to Fortune 500 companies in the medical technology, life sciences, energy and sustainability, manufacturing, and technology sectors rely on her counsel. Regarding Ms. Adams’ debut ranking this year, IAM Patent 1000 pointed to her “accomplished performances for Baker Hughes, managing a high volume of patent prosecution; and at the other end of the company spectrum, for start-up Droplette in developing its patent portfolio.”
   
• Mintz Member Peter Corless prepares, prosecutes, and manages extensive patent and trademark portfolios on behalf of companies and academic institutions located throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe. His clients include academic and governmental research institutions; Global 1000 manufacturing, chemical, and pharmaceutical companies; emerging and developing biotechnology and small molecule pharmaceutical companies; and medical technology companies. Regarding Mr. Corless, IAM Patent 1000 noted that he is a “staunch global patent and brand protector for his corporate and university clients, including many prestigious names.”
   
• Mintz Member William C. Geary is an experienced IP attorney with a particular background in medical technology, polymers and advanced materials, polymer processing technologies, and chemicals. Mr. Geary provides counsel on all phases of patent and trademark law, through development strategy, protection, and exploitation of patent and trademark rights. His clients include start-ups, large companies such as Johnson & Johnson, medical technology manufacturers, and research institutions. Regarding Mr. Geary, IAM Patent 1000 noted that he is a “go-to for patent and technology commercialization for clients such as Janssen Pharmaceuticals, which he supports in its acquisition of technologies from innovative companies.”
   
• Mintz Member and Chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Prosecution and Counseling Practice Fred C. Hernandez is a renowned patent lawyer with a robust practice focused on medical technology companies and institutions. In addition to managing large patent portfolios for Fortune 500 companies, he has significant experience collaborating with early-stage and emerging growth companies to manage their patent portfolios. Regarding Mr. Hernandez, IAM Patent 1000 noted that he is “a touchstone lawyer for medical device and medical technology entities.” And, “the regularity with which industry leaders snap up the emerging companies whose portfolios he has developed is a telling measure of his quality.”
   
• Mintz Member Kenneth E. Jenkins, PhD, is a prominent intellectual property attorney focused on patent prosecution and counseling work for life sciences companies and investors. He has extensive patent procurement experience in bioscience and chemical technologies, such as antibody therapeutics, gene therapy, small molecule modulators, gene silencing therapies, diagnostics, pharmaceutical formulations, stem cell therapies, and nanotechnologies, among others. Dr. Jenkins also provides strategic patent counseling to private equity firms and underwriters relating to early-stage and emerging company patent estate valuations. Regarding Dr. Jenkins, IAM Patent 1000 noted that he is “another star of the practice with a fine appreciation for the scientific and business aspects of his craft.”
   
• Mintz Member William B. Kezer, PhD, has a business-savvy, product-driven approach to patent prosecution. He provides clients with strategic advice on patent portfolio development, conducts due diligence reviews of targeted companies and technology, and handles comparative evaluations of competitive patented technologies. Mr. Kezer also procures global patent protection for pharmaceutical inventions. Regarding Dr. Kezer, IAM Patent 1000 pointed to the caliber of his work representing Arcus Biosciences, handling its small molecule patents and serving as lead strategist.
   
• Mintz Member Terri Shieh-Newton, PhD, is a nationally recognized intellectual property attorney and a leading woman in the life sciences industry. With 22+ years of experience, she plays a strategic role for her clients as she guides their patent strategy, portfolio management, and investments. Dr. Shieh-Newton works with companies of all sizes in a wide range of life sciences and clean technology industries. She also manages and conducts due diligence for companies and investors. Regarding Dr. Shieh-Newton, IAM Patent 1000 pointed to the centrality of her work on a portfolio for an anti-TIGIT antibody for Arcus Biosciences in a $2 billion investment by Gilead Sciences.

A testament to the Mintz IP team’s hallmark of collaboration, the Massachusetts guide added that the firm’s trio of ranked patent prosecution practitioners in Massachusetts – Ms. Adams, Mr. Corless, and Mr. Geary – “form a high-caliber line-up equipped to assist life sciences, chemical, medical and other technology companies throughout the innovation process and product lifecycle.” In its California rankings, the guide wrote that both Dr. Kezer and Dr. Shieh-Newton are well known for their expertise by life sciences innovators and “fly the firm’s flag high in San Francisco.”

The ninth annual IAM Patent 1000 guide was compiled following an extensive research process, which included 1,800 interviews with numerous attorneys at law, patent attorneys, and in-house counsel to gather market intelligence on the leading players in the field. Only those individuals identified by market sources for their exceptional skill sets and profound insights into patent matters feature in the IAM Patent 1000. The guide also identified leading firms in the market in prosecution, transactions, and litigation based on their depth of expertise, market presence, and the level of work on which they are typically engaged.