SEATTLE – August 21, 2018 – In a move that significantly enhances its Seattle office and expands its IP practice on the west coast, Cozen O’Connor today announced two attorneys from Seed IP Law Group LLP, Frank Abramonte and Lorraine Linford, have joined its fast-growing global IP Practice. With the addition of these two attorneys, the Seattle office will be Cozen O’Connor’s fifth largest with over 30 attorneys.
“The Seattle/Pacific Northwest region is home to technology and industry leaders across a wide range of fields and as a firm with a premier IP practice, it’s a natural place for us to grow our IP business,” says Michael J. Heller, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cozen O'Connor. “In addition to having exceptional track records, each of these attorneys bring strong connections to cutting-edge technology clients and industry leaders, large and small, along the west coast and internationally. Together we can help these businesses grow and prosper.”
“Like so many on our IP team, these attorneys bring a strong technological/scientific pedigree — in this particular case a range of important engineering disciplines,” adds Camille M. Miller, Co-Chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Intellectual Property Department. “They also have substantial prior work experience in highly technical fields, from software development to defense industry engineering, which gives them a special, in-depth understanding of IP client needs and goals. Lorraine also brings a meaningful trademark practice. I’m so happy to welcome them to the firm and our global IP team.”
“Seattle’s a tight-knit legal community, so we were all well aware of Cozen O’Connor’s stellar reputation,” Abramonte says. “We have the privilege of being strategic partners with our clients across many disciplines, and given the strong tech culture in Seattle, Palo Alto and Vancouver B.C., the client base is growing fast. We therefore look forward to working with our new colleagues to expand the firm’s IP practice.”
“Seattle has long been a center for innovation across a wide range of industries — and the city is home to leading brands known around the world,” Linford says “Moving to a firm with a national footprint gives each of us a larger legal platform with substantially greater resources from which to draw. We’ll be able to grow our practices further, while also helping Cozen O’Connor grow its IP practice.”
The new attorneys — who have significant experience in a range of technology fields from aeronautical, mechanical and electrical engineering to computer-aided design and other software applications —include the following:
Frank Abramonte specializes in patent procurement and patent portfolio strategizing in electrical, software, electro-mechanical engineering and medical device related technologies. In addition, Frank provides services in licensing, diligence exercises, and validity and infringement studies and opinions, as well as related litigation counseling. Frank counsels a range of businesses from established public companies through early and late stage startup businesses.
In addition to his years as a patent attorney, Frank has four years of industry experience as an engineer, including CAD/CAM and database application development in the fields of electrical systems, propulsion, fluid mechanics, complex surface geometries, and structures. Frank earned his undergraduate degree in Engineering from the University of Colorado and his law degree from the University of Oregon.
Lorraine Linford focuses on helping clients develop comprehensive IP strategies that will further their business goals and meet industry challenges, including procurement and enforcement of trademark registrations and utility and design patents. She helps clients in the U.S. and other countries create global patent and trademark portfolios across a wide range of fields and technologies, including mechanical and aeronautical engineering, automotive, apparel, software and personal care products. She also helps clients with strategic planning, patentability, validity and infringement opinions, trademark licensing and distribution agreements, and trademark oppositions and cancellation actions around the world. Lorraine earned her B.S. in aeronautical and astronautical engineering and law degree from the University of Washington.
These new IP attorneys represent the second major west coast addition to Cozen O’Connor’s IP department in just the past four weeks. On July 30, Susan Grueneberg, one of California’s best known and highly regarded franchise law attorneys, officially signed on to lead Cozen O’Connor’s global franchise practice. Grueneberg, who brings a client base that ranges from Fortune 500 franchisors to large area developers, sub-franchisors, and multi-unit franchisees and startups, joined the IP department as a member and is working out of Cozen O’Connor’s Los Angeles office. She focuses much of her practice on helping U.S. franchise programs expand into international markets and non-U.S. franchise programs expand into the United States.
About Cozen O’Connor Intellectual Property
Cozen O’Connor’s global intellectual property team represents a wide variety of national and international corporate clients from startups to multinational companies. Its clients operate in diverse industry sectors, including pharmaceutical, biotechnology, electronics, manufacturing, communications, finance, entertainment, and education. The firm offers a full-service practice, helping clients acquire, manage, and protect intellectual property. Its attorneys work in the areas of patent, trademark, trade dress, domain name, and copyright – and regularly counsel on procurement, prosecution, enforcement, asset management, monetization, licensing, and litigation.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has more than 825 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor services its clients’ needs through 32 offices across two continents.
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