October 15, 2014
THE RECORDER
By Patience Haggin
SAN FRANCISCO – A three-partner intellectual property group with a tech-heavy client base has departed Dickstein Shapiro for Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in Southern California. Robert Dickerson and Lawrence LaPorte joined the firm’s Los Angeles office, while Yasser El-Gamal joined in Orange County.
Dickerson, formerly co-leader of Dickstein’s IP practice, will chair Manatt’s IP practice. During his nearly four years at Dickstein, his clients included spinal implant manufacturer Spinal Kinetics, video game maker Activision Publishing and consumer electronics company Belkin International. He was formerly a partner at Jones Day and managing partner of the now-defunct intellectual property firm Lyon & Lyon.
LaPorte has also represented a number of high-technology clients in cases involving aerospace and aviation technologies, solar cells, semiconductors and software. Also formerly a partner at Jones Day, he joined Dickstein in 2009.
El-Gamal has represented clients in biotechnology, biometric devices and consumer electronics, among other fields. He worked as an engineer before entering the legal profession, then began his legal career as a patent examiner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He was formerly of counsel at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, as well as an associate at Jones Day and Lyon & Lyon.
Legal recruiter Larry Watanabe of Watanabe Nason brokered the moves.