We are pleased to announce that
Chambers USA - America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2010 has named five of our practice areas and eight of our partners to its lists of law firm leaders. In addition to several partners and practice groups rising among the ranks, the firm’s false advertising litigation practice is included in the top tier nationally.
Chambers rankings are based on extensive research and interviews with peers and clients around the country. The qualities assessed include technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness/astuteness, diligence, commitment and other qualities most valued by the client.
The following firm practices were ranked:
- Advertising: Litigation - National
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Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation - New York
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Intellectual Property: Trade Mark & Copyright Litigation - New York
- Media & Entertainment: Entertainment Litigation - New York
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Real Estate: Mainly Dirt - New York
In addition, the following partners were ranked as leading lawyers in their fields:
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Gregory L. Diskant in Intellectual Property: Patent - New York
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Andrew L. Herz in Real Estate - New York
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Jeffrey I.D. Lewis in Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation - New York
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Robert P. LoBue in Intellectual Property: Trade Mark & Copyright Litigation - New York and in Media & Entertainment: Copyright & Contract Disputes - New York
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Robert M. Safron in Real Estate - New York
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Saul B. Shapiro in Media & Entertainment: Copyright & Contract Disputes - New York
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John D. Winter in Products Liability & Mass Torts – National
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Steven A. Zalesin in Advertising: Litigation - National
Comments regarding the firm from the Chambers 2010 guide included:
ADVERTISING LITIGATION - NATIONWIDE
The Firm: This New York-based firm is renowned for having one of the best false advertising litigation teams in the country and is a leader in trademark, copyright and media disputes. It has a near-unparalleled reputation for excellence in 43(a) work and its impressive roster of clients includes Atari, Hasbro, Time Warner and Coca-Cola. The team secured a major victory on behalf of the latter in a false advertising suit brought by rival PepsiCo relating to the Powerade ION4 sports drink.
Sources Say: "One of the best false advertising practices around." "The team has significant legal expertise and critical litigation skills. It is comfortable and successful in the courtroom."
Key Individuals: Steven Zalesin chairs the firm's litigation department. He is held in high esteem for his “exceptional courtroom skills and is vigilant in protecting the long-term interests of his clients."
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LITIGATION: PATENT, TRADEMARK & COPYRIGHT - NEW YORK
The Firm: IP litigation is a major focus for this distinguished New York firm. The talented trial attorneys in the group have expertise that encompasses patent, trademark, copyright and trade dress disputes. The firm has expanded recently, with the addition of an anticounterfeiting practice group. Among the cases handled by the team are those involving medical device, pharmaceutical, electronic, consumer and industrial IP issues. In patent litigation, the team achieved a settlement of $716.3 million for client Cordis against Boston Scientific. On the soft IP side, the group has been representing clients such as Dow Jones, Hasbro and Taco Bell.
Sources Say: "A group that deserves praise; they do things the right way."
Key Individuals: Gregory Diskant is
"a top-flight litigator and one of the smartest people I know," according to one interviewee. He is best known for his patent litigation work and took the lead in the case for Cordis.
Jeffrey Lewis is appreciated for his trial skills, and characterized by sources as
"relaxed, gracious and exceptionally good in court." He focuses on pharmaceutical and chemical-related patent litigation.
Robert LoBue has been engaged by Fleischer Studios to take on an appeal in the Ninth Circuit that contests the validity and the rights to the Betty Boop cartoon character.
MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT LITIGATION – NEW YORK
The Firm: This group has an impressive reputation for handling copyright and commercial disputes for industry players such as Cablevision and Dow Jones. The team brought a suit on behalf of Hasbro against Jayant and Rajat Agarwalla and their company RJ Softwares, alleging that the defendants' online game 'Scrabulous' infringed Hasbro's copyright and trademark rights in SCRABBLE.
Sources Say: "We use many firms but Patterson is our first choice for entertainment litigation – the lawyers are incredibly practical and great at constructing a water-tight defense."
Key Individuals: "Astute and highly talented" Saul Shapiro concentrates on commercial and IP disputes and investigations for clients such as Thomson Reuters and The McGraw-Hill Companies. IP litigator Robert LoBue enters the rankings this year in recognition of his expertise in copyright disputes.
REAL ESTATE – NEW YORK
The Firm: This team impresses with the strength of its leasing practice, which involves acting for both landlords and tenants. In recent times, it has also been focusing more on workouts and restructurings; matters in this vein include its representation of the official committee of unsecured creditors in the Tarragon Corporation bankruptcy case.
Sources Say: "The diligent and respected lawyers in this group pay great attention to detail and are always willing to go the extra mile to get the job done."
Key Individuals: Andrew Herz and Robert Safron are leading real estate lawyers at the firm. Herz particularly impresses with his strength in commercial office leasing, mortgage financing and workouts. During 2009, he assisted Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe with its 220,000 sq ft office lease at 51 West 52nd Street. Safron's "deep base of experience and high level of respect among his peers give him a very strong currency in negotiations." He handles a variety of dirt law matters and is highly regarded for leasing work.