Patent Attorneys Join Perkins Coie's Office

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 5, 2006) – Perkins Coie welcomes two experienced patent attorneys to its Washington, D.C. office. Michael Oblon and James Denaro have joined the firm's national Intellectual Property practice.

Oblon, who joins the firm as a partner, comes to Perkins Coie from WilmerHale, where he focused his practice on patent counseling, litigation and prosecution. He has extensive experience in litigation before federal district courts, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, as well as in patent portfolio management and prosecution before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Prior to private practice, Oblon served as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and clerked for the Honorable Alvin A. Schall at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He earned a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering with highest distinction from the University of Virginia, and earned his law degree, cum laude, from Harvard Law School.

Denaro joins the firm as an associate. He previously was with Morrison & Foerster, where he focused on patent prosecution and counseling relating to computer products and supported that firm’s patent litigation practice. He earned a Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy from Tufts University, a Bachelors of Science in Computer Engineering from Georgia Tech, and his J.D., cum laude, from Tulane Law School.

"We are very pleased to have Michael and Jim join us," said John Devaney, office managing partner. "Their patent experience will be a valued contribution to our office and the IP practice overall."

Perkins Coie's Intellectual Property practice is known for having the focus and sophistication of an Intellectual Property boutique, with the backing of the resources of a full-service law firm. With one of the largest groups of registered patent attorneys and agents on the West Coast, the firm's Intellectual Property group provides large portfolio management, infringement opinions, patent litigation support and transactional due diligence in the biotech/life sciences, computer science, semiconductor, medical devices, aerospace, telecommunications and consumer products industries.