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CHICAGO - Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S., is pleased to announce that Jon H. Beaupré and Hermine Valizadeh, both attorneys at the firm, and Brinks alumnus Robert N. Carpenter have successfully obtained asylum for an immigrant from the West African nation of Togo. Charles M. McMahon, a shareholder at Brinks, and Bryan Moore, J.D., also assisted on the case.

In 2005, the Togolese woman fled to Chicago, seeking asylum in the Unites States to escape persecution she and her family had suffered in their native country of Togo. She revealed that because of their involvement with an opposing political party in Togo, she had been beaten and her husband was beaten and killed.

Mr. Carpenter, then serving as in-house counsel for a Brinks client, approached his former colleagues at Brinks and asked if they would be interested in co-representing the woman. Mr. Carpenter was particularly interested in this matter because his wife had volunteered as a missionary in Togo several years before and had special insight into the political situation that confronts certain Togolese citizens.

An immigration judge for the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review, found that the woman had a sufficient showing of past persecution on the basis of political beliefs and that the government failed to rebut the presumption of future persecution should she be forced to return to Togo. The judge granted the woman asylum, and following the judge's ruling, the government's attorney waived the right to appeal.

Mr. Carpenter is currently in-house counsel at BP America Inc.

Mr. Beaupré focuses his practice on litigation matters, including those involving trademark and unfair competition claims, trade secrets, patents, and contracts. He received a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin Law School and a B.S. in mechanical engineering, cum laude, from the University of Michigan.

Ms. Valizadeh focuses her practice on patent prosecution and litigation in computer, Internet and electrical arts. Ms. Valizadeh received her J.D. from the New England School of Law and her B.S., with distinction, in electrical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Mr. McMahon counsels clients and litigates in the areas of patent, trademark, copyright and unfair competition law. He received his B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and his 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.