McDermott Will & Emery adds three partners to IP group

Law firm McDermott Will & Emery LLP has added three new partners to its IP team in Chicago.

Michael Chu will be joined by David Bluestone and Justin Rand.

Prior to joining McDermott, the three worked together at a boutique IP firm in Chicago and have operated as a team for more than twelve years.

Chu, who will be leading the incoming team, is a patent practitioner.

During his career he has developed client relationships with Asian companies, and will “contribute to … efforts to expand opportunities in Asia”, the firm said.

His litigation experience includes all aspects of patent cases, ITC investigations and practice before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Bluestone focuses on patent litigation in federal court cases, ITC investigations and US Patent and Trademark Office reviews. He has worked across multiple jurisdictions on technologies including smartphones, computer software and biomedical devices.

Rand focuses on all aspects of patent prosecution and counselling in the mechanical and biological fields.

Sarah Columbia, partner and head of McDermott’s international IP litigation practice, said the three would be a “fantastic” addition to the team.

“Their desire to work across a more fully-integrated legal platform, together with McDermott’s focus on expanding our growing practices representing clients in China, Japan and Korea, mesh perfectly”.

McDermott Will & Emery’s IP practice has more than 200 lawyers and patent agents worldwide.

The firm has offices across the US and Europe as well as in Shanghai and Seoul.