Press Releases

CHICAGO - Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S., is pleased to announce that 11 new associates have joined the firm.

The associates are as follows.

Albert A. Abbou joins the firm as an associate in Brinks' Ann Arbor, MI office. Mr. Abbou earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from Michigan State University and received his J.D. from Ave Maria School of Law, Ann Arbor. Mr. Abbou spent his last year of law school working as a clerk at the Quinn Law Group in Novi, MI.

Robyn M. Bowland holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and earned her J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School. Ms. Bowland is a past summer associate with Brinks.

Jacob Cheung-Ka Ong received a B.S. in neuroscience from Brigham Young University and earned his M.S. in neuroscience from the University of California-San Diego, La Jolla. He received his J.D. from the J. Reuben Clark School of Law, Brigham Young University. Mr. Ong worked as a summer associate in the firm's Salt Lake City office in 2007 and will be based there.

Ryan M. Gleitz joins the firm with a B.S. in electrical engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School. Mr. Gleitz spent the summer of 2007 as a summer associate in the firm's Indianapolis office and will be based in Brinks' Chicago office.

Jung-Whan Kim has a B.S. in electrical engineering and computer sciences from the University of California-Berkeley. Mr. Kim earned his J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law and was a former summer associate with Brinks.

Patricia Leahu received a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois and a J.D. from The John Marshall Law School. Ms. Leahu was a former summer associate with Brinks.

Abby L. Lemek received a B.A. in biology from The University of Northern Iowa. Before finishing her J.D. at University of Iowa College of Law, Ms. Lemek was a summer associate with the firm in 2007.

Aaron A. Mitchell received a B.S. in electrical engineering and a B.S. in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin College of Engineering and a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Mr. Mitchell was a past summer associate with the firm.

E. Brandon Nykiel earned a B.S. and an M.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Dayton and his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School and. Mr. Nykiel was a former summer associate with Brinks.

Joseph M. Pletcher, Ph.D. received a B.S. in chemistry from Butler University in Indianapolis and went on to earn his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Emory University in Atlanta. Mr. Pletcher received his J.D. from the Indiana University School of Law and was a former summer associate with Brinks.

Virginia Wolk, a trademark associate, holds a B.A. in English language and literature from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and earned her J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.

Founded in 1917, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is based in Chicago with five additional 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.