How big is our practice group?
98 lawyers and technical advisors (22 partners, 39 associates and 37 technical advisors).

Chris Natkanski (Cornell Law School '00), who has an A.B. in physics from Harvard College, is registered to practice with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and regularly advises the firm's technology clients on patent and other intellectual property issues.

Erica Hepp (Boston University School of Law '05), has worked on several large transactions as part of the IP specialist team and is a member of the trademark and copyright groups as well as the data privacy and security group. Her practice includes a mix of trademark prosecution, licensing, advertising copy review, transactional IP, and general corporate work.

What we do?
The Intellectual Property Group represents clients for whom intellectual property is an important asset in the operation of their business. In addition to helping our clients complete transactions involving intellectual property, we also help our clients procure, manage, and defend intellectual property rights, including by prosecuting trademarks and patents. Our practice is primarily centered on five areas: engineering sciences; life sciences; trademarks and brand management; media and publishing; and data and privacy. The group's engineering sciences IP practice focuses on assisting clients involved in developing and marketing advanced technologies developed within the fields of electrical, optical, and mechanical engineering. Our life sciences IP practice represents the firm's life sciences clients in various biological and chemical discovery areas.

Our corporate patent practice, which has 12 partners and 62 associates and technical advisors, helps our clients by designing patent portfolios that enhance the ability of our clients to reach their business goals, evaluating patent validity, infringement and enforceability; preparing and prosecuting patent applications; handling adversarial proceedings involving U.S. and foreign prosecution matters, assisting in patent licensing transactions; and explaining the implications of recently proposed and enacted patent legislation around the world to our clients.

David Halstead (Harvard Law School '02) and Erika Takeuchi (Columbia Law School '00) are associates in the group's Life Sciences Practice, supporting the patent prosecution, product clearance investigations, and patent litigation we do for our life sciences clients. David received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Harvard in 1999, and Erika received her Ph.D in microbiology from the University of Rochester in 1996. David works in our Boston office, and Erika works in our Tokyo office.

In the area of trademarks and brand management, we provide comprehensive services, from mark clearance to registration, portfolio management, advertising compliance, and enforcement litigation.

In our media and publishing practice we represent clients who create, manage and exploit media properties in both traditional and news media.

Finally, in our data and privacy practice, we help our data industry clients build and manage businesses that comply with the ever-expanding privacy regulations in the United States and abroad. We also help other clients assess and minimize risk involving data.

Stuart Yothers (Fordham Law School '05) advises clients in several areas of our Intellectual Property Practice, including patent litigation, patent prosecution and opinions, intellectual property licensing, and due diligence relating to mergers, acquisitions and licensing transactions. Stuart received his B.S. in civil engineering from Columbia University in 2001 and his B.S. in physics from Wofford College in 2001. Stuart works in our New York office.

Christopher Carroll (Suffolk University Law School '03), who is an inventor for three U.S. Patents and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademarks Office, routinely drafts patent applications for the firm's technology clients and advises on other intellectual property and technology issues. Chris has a B.S. in electrical engineering and an M.S. in computer engineering. He previously worked as an engineer in the telecommunications industry.

Technical Advisor Program: In addition to hiring our associate lawyers from law schools, the firm hires scientists after their graduate training to work as technical advisors in our Intellectual Property Group. Technical advisors work at the firm while attending law school. Some attend school days and others at night. Technical advisors generally become associates at the firm after their law school training is complete. They are eligible to receive seniority credit for the time spent as a technical advisor. If interested in applying for a position in this program, please submit your resume materials to:

Ashley Von Glahn
Legal Recruiting Coordinator
One Metro Center
700 12th Street, N.W., Suite 900
Washington, DC 20005-3948
E-Mail: hiringprogram@ropesgray.com

Four of our technical advisors and a former technical advisor who recently became an associate are profiled below:

Regina Sam (Harvard Law School '10 (expected)) joined the firm as a technical advisor in 2006. Regina's practice is focused on electrical engineering, computer science, medical devices and business methods patents. She received her B.S. and M.S. in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT and worked as both an engineer and an information technology consultant prior to joining the firm. Regina is currently attending Harvard Law School while continuing to work at the firm. Regina works in our Boston office.

Kassie Helm (Fordham Law School '08 (expected)) joined the firm as a technical advisor in 2003. She prepares and prosecutes patents in the biotech and pharmaceutical areas. She has worked on a range of worldwide patent portfolios, and also consults on high stakes litigation matters. Kassie's Ph.D. work at Johns Hopkins focused on the neurobiology of aging; specifically, investigating the transcriptional neuroendocrine mechanisms of age-related cognitive decline and potential compounds for cognitive enhancement in aging. Kassie works in our New York office.

Maya Escobar (Boston University School of Law '08 (expected)) is a registered patent agent with Ropes & Gray's Intellectual Property Group. Since joining the firm in 2003, she has worked on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications and patentability, invalidity, and freedom to operate opinions relating to chemistry, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals.

Chia-Hao La (Fordham University Law School '08 (expected)) joined the firm as a technical advisor in 2003 and focuses on electrical engineering, computer science, medical devices and business methods patents. He also has been involved in client counseling, litigation support, and due diligence for corporate transactions. He received his B.S. and M.S. in electrical engineering and computer science at MIT. Chia works in our New York office.

Michael Chasan (Fordham University School of Law '07) joined the firm as a technical advisor in 2002. Since graduating from Fordham in 2007, Michael has continued at the firm as an associate practicing in the Intellectual Property & Rights Management department. Michael works on patent prosecution and evaluation of intellectual property focusing on integrated circuit design, communications devices and protocols, computer science, medical devices and business method patents. Michael has a M.S.E. and a B.S.E. from the University of Pennsylvania. Michael works in our New York office.

• Represented a consortium of private equity firms, including Bain Capital and Catterton Partners, in its $3.2 billion acquisition of OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc., a casual dining restaurant company whose portfolio of brands includes Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Roy's, Lee Roy Selmon's, Cheeseburger in Paradise and Blue Coral Seafood & Spirits. Intellectual property due diligence and evaluation, particularly with respect to the company's brands, played a key role in this transaction. For a description of an associate's role in this transaction, click here.
• Represent Gemstar-TV Guide in connection with prosecuting and managing its significant patent portfolio and litigating patent disputes in which it is involved. Gemstar-TV Guide is a leading, global media and technology company that develops, licenses, markets and distributes products and services that simplify and enhance television guidance and consumer entertainment. For a description of the associate's role on these matters, click here. 
• Represent Biogen in the global management and production of their IP rights in their number 1 product, Avonex®, on the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
• Represented Medtronic in the $1.35 billion acquisition of the medical device patent portfolio of a prolific inventor in settlement of ongoing patent litigation between the parties. This transaction required an integrated team of patent prosecution, litigation, licensing and mergers and acquisitions expertise drawn from three of our offices to structure and negotiate a complex acquisition.
• Assisted EMC, the leading data storage company, with a series of corporate acquisitions and investments, helping them to incorporate the latest technology and software into their storage products, and advising them on a wide range of intellectual property issues.
• Represented IVREA, a start-up biotech company, in connection with a major license and development agreement with a pharmaceutical company. For a description of the associate's role in this transaction, click here.
• Represent Simmons in connection with global brand licenses and brand management for Simmons mattresses, including a portfolio of active registered trademarks, and acquisition of new product lines.
• Represented Genzyme Corporation in connection with a license and product agreement related to antisense therapy for the treatment of high cholesterol.
• Represent Vertex Pharmaceuticals in coordinating and designing its patent portfolio worldwide. Some of Vertex’s patents related to HIV-drugs, which are now on the market. Other patents related to Hepatitis C virus drugs, now in clinical testing.
• Represented Bayer Health Care in a $225 million co-development and commercialization agreement with Nektar Therapeutics to commercialize NKTR-061, a drug that will be usedto treat Gram-negative pneumonias. Under the terms of the agreement, Bayer is responsible for global clinical development, regulatory strategy, manufacturing and marketing of NKTR-061. Nektar received $50 million upfront payment and will receive $175 million in milestonepayments with successful development and commercialization of NKTR-061.