Holland & Knight has strengthened its national Intellectual Property Group with a team of three partners from Perkins Coie who have particular experience with the International Trade Commission (ITC) and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) post-grant review proceedings. James "Jim" Coughlan and Terrence "Terry" Wikberg have joined the firm's Washington, D.C., office, and Amy Simpson has joined the firm's Los Angeles office. Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Ms. Simpson was co-chair of her previous firm's Post-Grant Proceedings practice for over a decade, and Mr. Coughlan was the co-chair of his previous firm's ITC Litigation Group for 14 years.
"We have been working to expand our Intellectual Property practice, particularly on the West Coast, and before the ITC as well," said David Donoghue, head of Holland & Knight's national Intellectual Property Group. "Amy, in particular, has established a robust practice and is well suited to lead our growth in California."
"I am delighted to be making this move alongside my colleagues, where we are eager to initiate the group's growth on the West Coast and establish the firm's ITC patent practice," said Ms. Simpson. "As we embark on this new chapter, we foresee numerous opportunities for collaboration with Holland & Knight's impressive stable of lawyers with science and engineering backgrounds in shaping this practice."
Ms. Simpson is a patent litigator and inter partes review (IPR) lawyer with more than two decades of experience strategically guiding technology companies in their offensive and defensive patent disputes. She has litigated high-profile cases across the United States in federal district courts and before the ITC involving a wide range of technologies, including LEDs, printers, wireless and cellular communications, software, semiconductor manufacturing and packaging technologies. Ms. Simpson has represented clients in IPRs before the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and is lead counsel on more than 50 IPRs.
"Holland & Knight's steadfast growth across multiple markets and diverse practice areas was greatly enticing to both myself and my colleagues, and we could not be more excited to be here, said Mr. Wikberg. "Together, we are well positioned to establish a world-class and resolute practice, contributing to the firm's continued success."
Mr. Wikberg's practice focuses on patent, trademark, trade dress and trade secret litigation, as well as strategic counseling, patent prosecution and intellectual property portfolio development. He has extensive litigation experience at both the ITC and in federal district courts throughout the country. Mr. Wikberg has represented both U.S. and foreign-based clients in a wide variety of technological areas.
"The issues of industry competitiveness and international trade are at the forefront of critical conversations happening worldwide," said Mr. Coughlan. "This is an area where we can give clients a clear competitive advantage because of our extensive experience and inside knowledge of ITC processes. We are excited to introduce Holland & Knight clients to our capabilities."
Mr. Coughlan has 25 years of patent litigation experience before the ITC both as a partner in private practice and in his former position as a senior staff attorney at the ITC's Office of Unfair Import Investigations. He has served as lead ITC counsel in more than 90 ITC investigations and represented clients on appeal at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, before the U.S. Department of Customs and Border Protection and before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in connection with the enforcement of ITC remedial orders. He is ranked by Chambers USA for ITC 337 practice and by Patexia, which ranked him first in defending parties at the ITC in 2022. Jim also served as office legal counsel to U.S. Sen. Carl Levin and judicial law clerk to the Honorable Marion T. Bennett of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Ms. Simpson earned a J.D. from the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, an M.S. in computer science from George Washington University and a B.S. from the University of Idaho. Mr. Wikberg earned a J.D. from the University of Maryland Law School and a B.S. in aeronautical engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Mr. Coughlan earned a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, an LL.M. in IP law from John Marshall Law School and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Bradley University.
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