Christian E. Samay Joins IP Group in Litigation Department
(November 8, 2007, New York City) – Reed Smith LLP, one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, today announced the addition of Christian E. Samay as a partner in the Intellectual Property Group in the firm’s New York office.
Mr. Samay joins Reed Smith from McCarter & English LLP, where he was a partner in the Newark, NJ office. His current practice focuses on complex civil litigation with particular emphasis on intellectual property litigation involving patents, trade secrets, and trademarks, including the representation of global pharmaceutical companies in litigation defending their patent rights. He has first chaired jury and bench trials. Outside his pharmaceutical and life sciences IP litigation, Mr. Samay also represents companies in general commercial litigation.
“Christian’s solid experience in litigating IP matters and first-chairing ANDA pharmaceutical cases for branded companies will be of tremendous benefit in rounding out our IP group’s expertise,” said Tracy Zurzolo Quinn, firmwide head of Reed Smith’s Intellectual Property Practice. ”Teamed with other experienced IP litigators, Christian will help us expand our national IP efforts on behalf of current life science clients, as well as attract new matters from the firm’s large and active group of life sciences and pharma clients.”
In addition to his experience as a litigator, Mr. Samay has significant transactional and IP counseling experience. Mr. Samay earlier served as General Counsel for a nationwide technology and telecommunications company where he was responsible for managing worldwide legal and human resource operations. He regularly advises clients on intellectual property-driven and technology-based initiatives and agreements of all kinds. Mr. Samay has drafted and negotiated multi-million dollar agreements involving the purchase and use of software, hardware, networks, telecommunications and other technologies for both well-established and emerging enterprises. Mr. Samay also counsels clients on best practices for the protection of trade secrets, the use of restrictive covenants, the implementation of document retention policies, and e-discovery.
Early in his career, Mr. Samay worked in the financial services and complex litigation arena. Reed Smith’s New York Office Managing Partner Robert Nicholas said, “We welcome Christian to the firm and to the New York office. He is an excellent fit for this office, not only because of his IP expertise, but also because of his longstanding and well developed litigation experience having first-chaired and tried many cases to verdict.”
“I am delighted to join Reed Smith where my particular skill set and business contacts will be highly valued” said, Mr. Samay. “Reed Smith competes at the highest levels for significant patent litigation and the opportunity to work with such a well-established and active IP group is very exciting. I look forward to contributing to the continued success and growth of the firm’s IP litigation practice.”
Mr. Samay received a J.D. from Seton Hall in 1997; a B.A. in English (Major) and International Relations (Minor) from Bucknell in 1991; and a Certificat de Langue Francaise from La Sorbonne in 1992.
