April 8, 2011
THE RECORDER
By Amy Miller
SAN FRANCISCO – An eight-person patent prosecution team, led by partners Dan Ovanezian and Marina Portnova, has left Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman to join Lowenstein Sandler’s Palo Alto office.
Lowenstein Sandler has been looking to expand its Silicon Valley practice by beefing up its company and venture fund representation, chairman and CEO Gary Wingens said.
This team will primarily work with the firm’s venture fund clients and their portfolio companies on IP matters, he said. But they’re also bringing with them some household-name tech clients, although Wingens declined to name them.
“They’re a great fit with our people and their clients are a terrific fit with our firm,” Wingens said. “The skill set of the whole team can really add terrific value to our existing client base.”
Ovanezian had joined Blakely Sokoloff in 1997 and built a practice focusing on patent prosecution, IP portfolio evaluations, and pre-trial services related to patent infringement litigation.
He specializes in helping start-up companies develop an IP portfolio and works with them through their IPO or other exit strategy. He also helps companies establish patent committees and perform IP landscaping and mining activities.
Portnova had joined Blakely Sokoloff in 1999 as an associate and made partner in 2005. Her practice focuses on IP protection in computer architecture, software, networking, communications, image processing, and business methods.
She helps companies build and manage patent portfolios, and helps them prepare and prosecute patent applications, perform patent validity and infringement analysis, and conduct IP due diligence. Before becoming an attorney, Portnova was a software developer for several large companies and a start-up venture. Also joining Lowenstein Sandler are counsel Kevin Grange; associates Ashley Essick, Ben Kimes, Joan Arbolante, Paul Krueger; and patent agent Tony Chen.