Steptoe & Johnson expands in Palo Alto

Steptoe & Johnson LLP has opened an office in Palo Alto and hired three partners to help with the launch.

William Abrams, managing partner at the new office, is joined by Sanjeet Dutta in northern California. As part of the expansion, Boyd Cloern is joining as partner in Steptoe’s Washington, DC office.

All three lawyers join from King & Spalding LLP.

“While Steptoe has long had clients in Silicon Valley, putting down roots there has been an important priority of the firm,” said Phil West, chair of Steptoe. “The new office in Palo Alto will allow us to better serve our existing clients in the region as well as expand our services, particularly in intellectual property ...”

Abrams, a litigator, specialises in patent infringement, trade secrets, technology transfer and licensing, trademarks, copyright, and Internet and media.

A patent specialist, Dutta focuses on litigation, prosecution, licensing agreements and IP diligence.

Cloern’s IP work includes litigating patent cases in the computer, telecommunications and medical devices industries, as well as copyright cases.

Alfred Mamlet, head of Steptoe’s Intellectual Property Group, commented:  “Over the past decade, our IP practice has grown more than tenfold to a team of 70-plus and counting. This growth has been strategic, aimed at giving Steptoe deep experience in several areas that fit well with the firm’s traditional strengths in complex commercial litigation and international trade.

“Bill’s experience as a first-chair litigator will greatly complement the team we have in place, and we are delighted to welcome him, Boyd and Sanjeet to the firm.”