February 13, 2008

THE DAILY TRANSCRIPT

By Doug Sherwin

SAN DIEGO – They proved to be quite a dynamic combination when practicing together in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Now, San Diego attorneys Doug Olson and Vicki Norton have teamed up once again as the pair joined Duane Morris this week. Olson, a noted patent litigator, comes to the firm most recently from Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, while Norton brings over her successful patent prosecution practice from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.

“They’re terrific additions to the firm,” said Chris Celentino, managing partner of Duane Morris’ San Diego office. “They bring a national clientele and a national courtroom reputation to a firm that has one of the fastest growing IP practices in the country.”

Olson and Norton first worked together at Lyon & Lyon, one of California’s premier boutique IP law firms, in the late 1990s before they both moved to Brobeck Phleger & Harrison. When Brobeck shuttered its operations in 2003, Norton went to Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and then Wilson Sonsini, while Olson helped opened Paul Hastings’ San Diego office, which he then led.

“The acquisition of top IP talent remains in high demand,” said San Diego legal recruiter Larry Watanabe, a partner with Watanabe Nason who helped place the pair at Duane Morris. “Many of today’s leading corporations have their primary resources tied to intellectual property assets. “Both Olson and Norton are indisputably experienced in the field and provide Duane Morris’s West Coast offices with added depth and capacity.” Olson is one of San Diego’s most experienced patent trial lawyers, having participated in more than 50 trials. He also is the only San Diego patent lawyer named in “Who’s Who Legal,” according to Watanabe.

One of the reasons Olson left Paul Hastings was because of potential conflicts of interest that could arise between his clients and some of the firm’s other clients. Nonetheless, he is happy at his new home and the direction it’s headed.

“I think the firm is in a real growth phase with regard to IP litigation, particularly in the areas I frequently practice,” Olson said. “I’ve known some of the (Duane Morris) lawyers for many years, and it’s a great opportunity to be reunited with them. It’s going to be very helpful to my practice to be reunited with (Norton) and be able to join forces in some cases.”

Norton is an experienced biotech patent partner and represents some major life-sciences companies.

“Doug and I had a lot of synergy and have been looking for ways to work together again,” Norton said. “This opportunity at Duane Morris came up, and we jumped at it.

“I think they’re a firm very focused on client service. They give their attorneys lots of flexibility to make sure (we) consider client needs in the best manner possible.”

Duane Morris officials view the acquisition as somewhat of a coup. “It was an exceptional opportunity for us,” Celentino said. “We understand that we competed very heavily with a number of firms in town. We’re proud to be the right fit for our new colleagues to call home.” Olson said the firm fits with his far-reaching practice.

“I think the way the firm is organized, it permits real close coordination and cooperation between the offices, which is something that will result in a very effective practice of law and carrying out of litigation,” Olson said.