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Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione Appoints Vander Schaaf to Lead Washington D.C. Office
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Chicago, IL -- Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S., today announced the appointment of Lyle Vander Schaaf as managing partner of the firm's Washington D.C. office.
A former counsel at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), Vander Schaaf joined Brinks in April 2010, shortly after the firm opened its Washington D.C. office.
As managing partner, Vander Schaaf will lead Brinks' outreach to clients in Washington D.C. and throughout the region, while continuing to represent the firm’s clients before the ITC. He will also assist the firm’s representation of clients before the Federal Circuit and D.C.-area district courts, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Copyright Office and other government authorities.
Brinks' Washington D.C. office is focused on serving technology companies—particularly in the biotech, software, communications and Internet fields—throughout the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions, as well as international companies seeking representation before federal agencies or courts.
"With his expertise in intellectual property and international trade law, Lyle is uniquely qualified to lead the Washington D.C. office," said Brinks' president Gary M. Ropski. “Our clients benefit from his insider's knowledge of the ITC and his leadership of Brinks' regional team."
"Within a short period of time, Lyle has proven his ability to serve as an integral part of our ITC team and to bring local resources to bear on our clients' ITC matters, especially with regard to Section 337 investigations," noted Laura Beth Miller, who chairs Brinks' ITC practice. Miller, along with Meredith Martin Addy, chair of the firm’s Appellate group, and G. Peter Nichols, chair of the Patent Prosecution group, helped to establish Brinks' Washington D.C. office as a means to enhance the firm’s services to clients.
An international trade attorney with a focus on intellectual property, Lyle Vander Schaaf practices before the ITC, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and U.S. Customs offices, and represents clients in trade litigation before the U.S. federal courts and NAFTA panels. He has participated in numerous Section 337 investigations and World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute panel proceedings, and also counsels clients on free trade agreements and regional trade issues. Vander Schaaf has been listed in Euromoney PLC's Expert Guides: The World's Leading International Trade Lawyers.
Vander Schaaf served in the Office of General Counsel of the ITC, as well as in the Office of then-Chairman Peter S. Watson. He managed a variety of patent and trademark-based Section 337 investigations, including drafting opinions and advising commissioners in their decisions under Section 337. He also led a number of anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations, and handled various GATT and WTO trade matters. Prior to joining Brinks, Vander Schaaf was a partner at Bryan Cave LLP, where he led the ITC practice.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the United States and serves the intellectual property needs of clients around the world. Brinks has 150 attorneys, scientific advisors and patent agents who specialize in intellectual property litigation and all aspects of patent, trademark and copyright law. The firm also advises on issues relating to intellectual asset management, trade secret, unfair competition, and technology and licensing agreements. Brinks routinely handles assignments for companies in the electrical, chemical, and mechanical engineering sectors; the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and nanotechnology industries; and for companies whose work relates to Internet and computer technology law. The firm’s trademark practice works on behalf of clients who deal in a wide variety of products and services. Founded in 1917, Brinks is based in Chicago and has five additional offices across the country, including its new office in Washington D.C. More information is available at www.usebrinks.com.
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