Intellectual Property Law Firm Brinks Gilson & Lione Elects Eight New Shareholders

CHICAGO, Jan. 11, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brinks Gilson & Lione, one of the nation's largest intellectual property law firms, has elected eight attorneys as shareholders, effective January 2016.

The firm's newest shareholders are Andrew J. Avsec, Jacob C. Bachman, Jeffrey J. Catalano, Yuezhong Feng, Ph.D., and Joshua S. Frick, all based in Chicago; Jennifer Fox and Rashad L. Morgan in Research Triangle Park, N.C., and Eric D. Babych in Salt Lake City.

"All of this year's class of new shareholders are highly qualified attorneys, each offering a unique background and qualifications in specific technical areas," said Brinks president James R. Sobieraj. "I am pleased to welcome them as shareholders."

Andrew Avsec focuses his practice on domestic and international trademarks, trade dress, advertising, copyright, and unfair competition law. He represents clients in district court litigation and in oppositions before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, manages global trademark protection and enforcement programs, and counsels clients on a wide range of trademark, copyright, and advertising issues, including on brand expansion and rebranding projects. Avsec earned an A.B. in bioethics from Princeton University, and a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.

Jacob Bachman combines litigation and patent prosecution experience to bring a 360-degree perspective to protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights. As a litigator, he has been involved in all phases of trial preparation and motion practice for patent, trade secret, and copyright cases. As a prosecutor, Bachman has devised and implemented strategies to develop portfolios in the U.S. and internationally. He regularly drafts patent applications as well as infringement and patentability opinions. Bachman graduated with honors from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in mechanical engineering, and earned his law degree cum laude from The John Marshall Law School.

Eric Babych has extensive experience preparing and prosecuting patent applications in the U.S. as well as in most foreign jurisdictions. He provides guidance regarding overall patent portfolio strategy, and regularly renders legal opinions related to patentability, freedom-to-operate, non-infringement, and invalidity. Additionally, Babych has handled patent appeals before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and oppositions before the European Patent Office. Prior to becoming a patent attorney, Babych worked as a research chemist at a biotechnology company. He is listed as an inventor on several patent applications. Babych earned a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Utah, and a J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law.

Jeffrey Catalano litigates cases across all areas of intellectual property—including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets—primarily in U.S. district courts and at the International Trade Commission. He is particularly well known for his in-depth experience related to fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing of standard essential patents, specifically in the telecommunications and networking sectors. Catalano was named by his peers as a Leading Lawyer in Intellectual Property in Illinois for 2014-2015. He earned a B.A. in international studies at Miami University, and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Dr. Yuezhong Feng litigates complex patent, Hatch-Waxman, and ITC Section 337 cases, and guides clients through the patent process. As co-chair of Brinks' China Task Force, he works with Chinese businesses entering the U.S. market, and assists U.S. and European companies with intellectual property issues in China. In 2014, Feng was named to the Lawyers of Color Hot List. He holds a B.S. in chemistry with a minor in law from Beijing University, and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Chicago. Feng earned his law degree at The John Marshall Law School.

Jennifer Fox focuses her practice on counseling pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in patent and related transactional matters. Both a research scientist and patent attorney, she has over 18 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Fox was selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2014. She graduated cum laude with an M.S. in molecular biology from the University of Toledo, and graduated cum laude with a J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law.

Joshua Frick focuses his practice on all aspects of trademark, trade dress, copyright, and unfair competition law, including developing and maintaining domestic and international trademarks. As a litigator, Frick has represented clients in federal court actions as well as cancellation and opposition proceedings before the TTAB. He also counsels clients on brand protection and social media, handles domain-name disputes under the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy, and works with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to prohibit the import of infringing and counterfeit articles. Frick holds a B.S. in marketing and legal studies from Indiana University, and earned his J.D. at Washington University School of Law.

Rashad Morgan focuses his practice on patent prosecution, patent litigation, due diligence review, and opinion work in the areas of chemistry, biotechnology, and the mechanical arts. In his patent prosecution practice, he often assists clients in securing patent protection in foreign jurisdictions in addition to the U.S., and he provides full-service counsel on legal strategies for entire patent families. He has also been involved in litigations covering pharmaceuticals, medical devices, consumer products, and other technologies. In 2015, Morgan was invited to join The National Black Lawyers Top 100, a professional honorary organization composed of the top 100 black lawyers from each state. Morgan graduated magna cum laude from Florida A &M University with a B.S. in chemical engineering, and earned his J.D. cum laude from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

Brinks Gilson & Lione
The attorneys, scientific advisors and patent agents at Brinks Gilson & Lione focus their practice in the field of intellectual property. Brinks is one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S. Clients around the world use Brinks to help them protect and enforce their intellectual property rights. Brinks lawyers provide counseling in all aspects of patent, trademark, unfair competition, trade secret and copyright law. More information is at www.brinksgilson.com.