Press Releases

CHICAGO - Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S., announces the opening of a new office in the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina area and welcomes two local patent attorneys, Allen R. Baum and Joshua T. Elliott, who will be based in the Research Triangle Park office. Mr. Baum and Mr. Elliott, formerly with The Hutchison Law Group, join the firm as partners. The office will officially be open for business on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.

"Brinks is a world leader in intellectual property law and already serves a solid client base in the Research Triangle Park (RTP) region," said Brinks president, Gary M. Ropski. "The addition of these two outstanding attorneys and the new office fits our current practice strategy and addresses an increasing demand from our clients. This expansion into the southeastern United States will allow us to build on our commitment to exceptional service to all clients."

The new Research Triangle Park office will be located in one of the oldest and largest science parks in North America and home to more than 170 companies, including Fortune 100 multinational research organizations, university-based and start-up operations and a number of U.S. federal agencies.

"Josh and I are pleased to practice IP law with such a prominent and respected firm that is dedicated solely to intellectual property," said Mr. Baum. "Brinks offers us the capacity and resources to grow our prosecution practice, as well as expand our litigation service capabilities for clients we currently serve."

"Brinks has established a significant presence in the generic pharmaceutical segment," said Thomas J. Filarski, chair of the firm's Chemical Group and a lead generic pharmaceutical litigator. "The addition of Allen and Josh to our office in Research Triangle Park will markedly enhance the scope of our pharmaceutical, chemical and biotech practice."

Allen R. Baum is a skilled patent attorney focusing his practice in the areas of pharmaceuticals, biochemistry and biotechnology. Prior to and during law school, Mr. Baum was a pharmaceutical chemist for DuPont Merck Pharmaceuticals and SmithKline Beecham. He is a past president of the Licensing Executives Society, an organization of more than 6,000 licensing professionals in the United States and Canada. He also served as the chair of the Chemical/Biotechnology Committee of the North Carolina Bar Association. Mr. Baum received his B.S. from Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA, and his law degree from Widener University School of Law.

Joshua T. Elliott focuses his practice on patent law matters relating to biochemistry and biotechnology. His clients include technology companies involved in areas such as proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, antibodies, pharmaceuticals, proteomics and RNA interference. Mr. Elliott received his B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and his law degree from the University of Dayton School of Law, where he was a Loren M. Berry Scholar and a member of the University of Dayton Law Review.

Founded in 1917, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is based in Chicago with five other offices across the country serving the intellectual property needs of clients from around the world. The firm is one of the largest IP law firms in the country, with more than 170 attorneys, scientific advisors and patent agents specializing in intellectual property litigation and all aspects of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, unfair competition, intellectual asset management, and technology and licensing agreements. Brinks routinely handles assignments in fields as diverse as electrical, chemical, mechanical, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, nanotechnology, Internet and computer technology, as well as in trademarks and brand names for a wide variety of products and services.