Perkins Coie Adds Partners from Mayer, Brown and Jenner & Block

CHICAGO (February 20, 2007) – Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that Michael Warnecke, Jill Sugar Factor and Teri Lindquist have joined its Chicago office. Warnecke joins the firm from Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw where he was the longtime head of the firm's Intellectual Property practice. Both Factor and Lindquist come from Jenner & Block and will be part of Perkins Coie's Business Law group, focusing primarily on private equity and related practices.

At Mayer Brown, Warnecke (65) focused his practice on major patent litigation cases, including international patent, technology licensing and other intellectual property matters. He has been first chair on numerous patent litigation cases in which he represented companies such as Caterpillar, Inc., Brunswick Corp., MetLife and Mitsubishi Corp. In one of the most significant cases of his career, Warnecke obtained successful damages and injunctive relief for Rockwell International on a major trade secret matter. The case was later affirmed on appeal where it garnered substantial national media attention for its innovative use of computer graphics to present evidence.

"We are delighted that Mike, Jill and Teri have joined the Firm," said Chris Wilson, Chicago office managing partner. "Jill's and Teri's practices will be a tremendous complement to our existing transactional practice, and Michael will be an asset to our strong intellectual property practice. Their experience and professionalism will further enhance the service we provide our clients."

In the 1990s, Warnecke was selected by the People's Republic of China trade delegation, led by Vice Premier Li Lanqing, to host a two-day seminar for American automotive and after-market companies, as well as the Chinese delegation on the legal aspects of doing business in China.

At the request of the Chinese government, he provided advice on the redrafting of the 1984 Patent Act. Similarly, in 1993, he provided advice on the Unfair Competition Act, which was adopted in 1994.

Warnecke earned his J.D. from George Washington University in 1967, and his B.S. in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in 1963.

"I look forward toward building Perkins Coie's Intellectual Property group to an even bigger platform worldwide," says Warnecke.

While at Jenner & Block, both Factor and Lindquist focused their practices on private equity, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and restructurings, and represented a wide range of clients in a broad spectrum of transactions.

"We are excited to be joining Perkins Coie," said Lindquist.

"We are impressed with the quality of their work and reputation in the market and are eager to be a part of the team," added Factor.

Factor (45) has represented several prominent private equity firms in mergers and acquisitions, capital market transactions and equity financings. Her experience includes counseling clients with respect to investments in more than 30 venture capital, private equity and other funds. She has also represented public companies, such as General Motors Corp., in a variety of strategic, capital market, financing and other transactions.

Prior to joining Jenner, Factor was executive vice president and general counsel of UNext, an Internet education company, where she was a member of the senior management team and responsible for legal affairs. She joined UNext in 1999 after being a partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis for eight years.

Factor graduated summa cum laude from Northwestern University Law School in 1986, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif and received the John J. Stevens Award for Academic Excellence. She received an M.B.A. in 1983 from Washington University. She also earned her B.S.B.A. from Washington University in 1982, where she was a Chancellor’s Scholar and graduated with Senior High Honors.

Lindquist (47) focuses her practice on all aspects of private equity, including fund formation, fund investment, representing private equity firms in complex financing transactions in connection with leveraged mergers and acquisitions, and representing portfolio companies in workouts, DIP facilities, exit financings and distressed debt purchases and sales. She joins the firm after serving as chair of the Corporate Finance Practice at Jenner & Block. Prior to joining Jenner & Block, she was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis.

Lindquist received her J.D., from Northwestern University School of Law in 1986, and her B.A., cum laude, from the State University of New York in 1981.