Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that partners Ngai Zhang and Drew Schulte have joined the firm’s expanding Intellectual Property (IP) practice in the Washington, D.C., and New York offices, respectively. Ngai and Drew counsel on strategic patent prosecution with a focus on the software and financial technology sectors.
The firm’s internationally recognized IP practice has grown significantly in recent years to more than 250 attorneys and patent agents in the United States and Asia. Ngai and Drew’s additions come after partner Lori Gordon, a seasoned IP litigator focused on inter partes reviews (IPRs), joined the firm’s Washington, D.C., office in June.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ngai and Drew to our growing IP practice and know that their fintech experience and innovative approach to portfolio management will be of great benefit to our clients,” said Steve Bishop, co-chair of Perkins Coie’s Intellectual Property practice. “Their addition to the group continues our focus on cutting-edge industries and the East Coast.”
Ngai focuses his practice on internet and technology law, including patents, trademarks, open source, technology transactions, user agreements, and contests and sweepstakes. He advises clients from Fortune 500 companies to startups and has a deep understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), blockchain and distributed ledgers, cybersecurity, cloud computing, medical devices and health-related applications, virtual, augmented, and mixed realities, and video games.
With extensive experience before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the European Patent Office, Drew has focused his practice in recent years on the dynamic fields of AI/ML and fintech. He counsels clients on patent prosecution and IP portfolio development, prepares patentability or noninfringement opinions, performs due diligence, and assists with drafting and negotiation of IP agreements.
“We were impressed by the insightful and entrepreneurial approach Ngai and Drew bring to their work on behalf of their clients and know it will be an asset for our highly regarded patent team,” said Bruce V. Spiva, Perkins Coie’s Washington, D.C., office managing partner. “We are pleased to welcome them both to the firm amid the continued growth of our IP practice.”
Ngai and Drew join from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, where they were members of the Intellectual Property, Patent Counseling, Prosecution & Litigation, IP Audits & Strategic Planning, and Post-Grant Proceedings groups.
Ngai received his B.S. in computer engineering and his J.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park. Drew received his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School and his B.S. in manufacturing and design engineering from Northwestern University.
Perkins Coie’s Intellectual Property practice offers clients innovative, comprehensive counsel at every stage of IP protection and development, including patent litigation and appeals, post-grant proceedings, patent prosecution, portfolio counseling, and technology licensing, as well as copyright, trademark, trade secret, and unfair competition counseling and litigation. The firm’s team has secured significant wins for many clients, particularly in the pharmaceutical and technology sectors, and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. International Trade Commission, district courts, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Perkins Coie’s IP practice has been recognized for its industry-leading team of women focusing on the patent practice.
Perkins Coie is a leading international law firm that is known for providing high value, strategic solutions and extraordinary client service on matters vital to our clients’ success. With more than 1,200 lawyers in offices across the United States and Asia, we provide a full array of corporate, commercial litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory legal advice to a broad range of clients, including many of the world’s most innovative companies and industry leaders as well as public and not-for-profit organizations.
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