Gallop, Johnson & Neuman has hired two intellectual property lawyers, Donald R. Holland, Ph.D., and William E. Lahey, as demand continues to grow for patent representation.

Dr. Holland and Mr. Lahey are the first of several prominent IP attorneys the firm is currently adding to its IP practice to address new business in matters of high technology, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, and related litigation.

“While many law firms and their IP groups are stagnating in the current economy, we are expanding,” says Kenneth Solomon, Chair of Gallop, Johnson & Neuman’s IP Practice Group. “This is not a matter of merely adding capacity,” says Solomon. “This would not have been possible just a few years ago – the talent was just not available. We are fortunate to add some of the most experienced, well-regarded patent attorneys in the St. Louis region,” he added.

Dr. Holland, who earned a Ph.D. in cell physiology and biochemistry in addition to a law degree, has nearly 20 years of patent law experience in biotech, chemical and pharmaceutical sciences. He has focused his practice on patent preparation and prosecution and on opinion work including patentability opinions, clearance opinions and due diligence opinions. Dr. Holland also has extensive experience in international and foreign patent prosecution, and in Hatch-Waxman opinion work. Before becoming a patent attorney, Dr. Holland headed a pharmaceutical discovery research lab for many years.

Mr. Lahey has been an intellectual property attorney and “first chair” litigator for 35 years. He has handled cases involving biotechnology, computer sciences, electrical systems, fibers, mining safety, mechanical and other technologies. In addition, he has testified as an expert witness on patent law; conducted licensing negotiations for intellectual property rights; and rendered legal opinions on validity infringement and enforceability of intellectual property rights. He has conducted due diligence analysis for corporate mergers and acquisitions, and handled many patent application prosecution matters including ex-parte and inter-parties practices before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

“In today’s technology-driven, patent-sensitive business environment, our clients require more intellectual property services to address a full range of legal issues,” Solomon observes. “Don and Bill are very experienced, very well-known and much respected in business, scientific, engineering and legal communities.”

Donald Holland and William Lahey will be of counsel attorneys in the firm’s IP practice.  The firm is expecting to hire more intellectual property lawyers this fall as well.  What’s driving the firm’s growth is a growing demand for biotechnology and electronics patent work, Solomon and Lahey said.