Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough and Boston-based Lahive & Cockfield to Join Forces

COLUMBIA,SC – October 7, 2010 – Lahive & Cockfield, a top-ranked Bostonintellectual property law firm, is combining with Nelson Mullins Riley& Scarborough, a large East Coast law firm known nationally for itstechnology and science-related litigation. The move expands servicesfor clients of both firms, increases the combined intellectual propertyteam to more than 70 attorneys and technical specialists, and willdouble the size of the Nelson Mullins Boston office.

The expanded IP group will continue to provide comprehensive patent,trademark, copyright, and IP litigation services to domestic andinternational clients. Taking a cross-disciplinary approach, the groupwill work with more than 400 Nelson Mullins attorneys and governmentrelations professionals who practice in more than 40 areas of law,including its general litigation, corporate, transactions andlicensing, and financing and securities groups.

Lahive Executive Committee Chair Amy Mandragouras (pictured left)said the 23 attorneys and technical professionals of Lahive wanted togrow our practice and expand our core specialty areas. By combiningwith Nelson Mullins, we will have more resources to meet client servicedemands.”

In Nelson Mullins, we found a partner that truly complements ourpractice, Ms. Mandragouras said. We are joining Lahive’s patent andtrademark preparation and prosecution professionals with NelsonMullins’ IP attorneys and litigators to form a diverse and highlyskilled IP group with deep technical knowledge.”

Both firms represent clients ranging from start-up companies toinstitutions to Fortune 500 companies in technology areas. Attorneysand technical specialists from both firms are scientists, engineers,and mathematicians, many with Ph.D. degrees, masters and bachelordegrees in technical disciplines such as electrical engineering,computer science, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, immunology, andmechanical engineering. The group includes both former Patent Examinersas well as a number of former Federal Circuit law clerks. And bothfirms’ approach to client representation is shaped by the client’sneeds and individual attention.

With the addition of 23 attorneys and patent professionals fromLahive, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough continues our rapidgrowth in New England, said Nelson Mullins Managing Partner David E.Dukes. These professionals are recognized for their high qualitypatent work and will enhance our existing intellectual propertypractice. The relationship also provides both our national andinternational clients, in particular those in the biotechnology andpharmaceutical industries, with deeper legal resources.

In February 2006, Nelson Mullins opened its Boston Office under theleadership of William T. Hogan III. Robert B. Crowe brought a group ofnine attorneys and two public strategies professionals to join theBoston office in April 2009, which also resulted in its move to itscurrent location at 1 Boston Place. Mr. Hogan and Mr. Crowe, who areco-managing partners of the Boston office, agree that this is asignificant milestone in the growth of NM in Boston.

Above photos, left to right:  Robert B. Crowe and William T. Hogan III, co-managing partners of the Boston office.

We have steadily built a reputation in the Boston legal communitywith our government relations, litigation, financial services, andcorporate practices, said Mr. Crowe. The addition of Lahive’sintellectual property talent is a logical next step for our presence inNew England.

Mr. Hogan sees the growth of the Boston office as an indicator ofthe strength of Nelson Mullins. I am pleased to be a part of a growingoffice and a vital law firm, he said. Nelson Mullins is making itselfknown in Boston and the Northeast by building on its commitment to itsclients.

Established in 1897, Nelson Mullinshas experienced recent significant growth, having opened offices inBoston, Florida, and West Virginia in the past five years. The 12Nelson Mullins locations also include offices in Washington, Atlanta,and multiple locations in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Together, we can offer the services of a group of attorneys andpatent professionals who understand both a client’s business and itstechnology, said Mark Dukes (pictured, left), partner andchair of the Nelson Mullins Intellectual Property Law and LitigationGroup.From the beginning of an issue, our IP attorneys seek to findbusiness solutions to clients’ problems. Combining with Lahive enhancesour overall ability to provide the means for achieving client goals.

Additionally, Mark Dukes said, IP lawyers often work in conjunctionwith other sections of the Firm to enhance the value and efficiency ofclient service well beyond the bounds of a traditional intellectualproperty practice. For example, the experience and resources of thenationally recognized Nelson Mullins litigation practice areparticularly valuable in IP litigation. Moreover, Nelson Mullinslawyers handle venture capital transactions on a routine basis andfrequently negotiate complex technology transfers, licenses, andacquisitions in a wide variety of industries.

Five of the nation’s largest companies have named Nelson Mullins astheir Go-To Law Firm for its intellectual property and litigation work.US News Media Group and Best Lawyers also listed the firm as a top tierlaw firm in intellectual property in Columbia, S.C. Nelson Mullins’litigation presence nationally, particularly in defense ofpharmaceutical and life science companies, has been recognized byChambers and Partners legal directory as among the best in the nation.Law 360, a Portfolio Media online legal news organization, in 2009ranked the Nelson Mullins product liability practice group as thesecond largest in the nation.

Lahive consistently ranks among the top five Boston law firms fornumber of patents filed and obtained. The 2010 edition of Chambers USA:America’s Leading Lawyers for Business recognized Lahive &Cockfield as one of the top intellectual property law firms inMassachusetts.  Chambers commended Lahive for its solid practicecovering a range of matters including litigation and protection of IPrights, as well as trade secrets, strategic planning, patentpreparation and prosecution.

Effective Nov. 1, Lahive & Cockfield will operate as Nelson MullinsRiley & Scarborough LLP. Nelson Mullins will relocate its currentBoston office and 19 attorneys and policy advisors to Lahive’s currentoffice located at One Post Office Square in Boston.