Pillsbury promotes three IP lawyers to partner

Law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP has promoted three IP lawyers to its partnership in the US.

The new partners will take up their new roles on January 1 next year.

They are: Ben Esplin, based in the San Diego office, Patrick Jennings from the Washington, DC office, and Carolyn Toto, who works in the Los Angeles office.

Esplin is currently lead counsel on the firm’s social media & games team and focuses on development and monetisation of IP, patent filing strategies and patent portfolio sales and licensing.

Prior to practicing law, Esplin was a patent examiner with the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Also a member of the firm’s social media & games team, Jennings advises clients across a range of industries on all aspects of trademark law, including counselling, prosecution and dispute resolution.

Before joining Pillsbury, Jennings also worked at the USPTO as a trademark examining attorney.

Carolyn Toto’s practice covers IP litigation, as well as prosecution and transactional work for clients in the chemical, pharmaceutical and medical device industries.

“We are proud to welcome these accomplished lawyers to the partnership,” said the firm's chair James Rishwain.

“All of our new partners have distinguished themselves through their outstanding knowledge of the law, strong leadership skills and exceptional dedication to client service.”

Pillsbury is a full-service law firm based in the world's major financial and technology centres including Abu Dhabi, Shanghai and Tokyo.