A group of seven intellectual property lawyers from Vedder Price is taking their practice to a larger firm, joining forces with Duane Morris.

The lawyers, led by partners Thomas Kowalski and Deborah Lu, are mostly based in New York, with one special counsel, Heidi Lunasin, in Washington, D.C. Joining Duane Morris’ New York office with Kowalski and Lu are special counsel Lawrence Casson and Mark William Russell, and associates Tinh Nguyen and Han Gao.

Firm chairman Matthew Taylor said Duane Morris’ IP practice now has more than 110 lawyers spread over almost all of its 29 offices. It is the third-largest practice group at Duane Morris, which has about 800 lawyers total, he said. …

Kowalski focuses his practice on representing biotech and pharmaceutical companies in various IP matters, including patent litigation and patent prosecution. Lu, who has a Ph.D. in biological chemistry, manages complex patent portfolios, and works with clients on validity, freedom-to-operate and patentability. According to court records, their recent client representations include animal health company Merial Inc.

Taylor said Kowalski, Lu and their group have known lawyers at Duane Morris for a long time, and saw an opportunity to grow their practice. Taylor said the Duane Morris’ IP practice client roster is “a who’s who in American business, particularly in the tech sector.” It includes companies like Cisco and AT&T.

“We kind of have a boutique within a big firm,” Taylor said, regarding the various aspects of IP law the firm can service. …

Also this year, Duane Morris has hired a partner duo from Sedgwick, following another group hire from that firm in late 2017; three lawyers from insurance litigation boutique Vocke Law Group; and white-collar litigator Christopher Casey from Hogan Lovells. The firm has also grown its new Austin office, hiring corporate insurance partner Alex Gonzales and intellectual property litigator Pierre Hubert in January.

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