October 21, 2014
LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL
By Kibkabe Araya
Manatt woos six from Dickstein Shapiro in recent weeks, plus one from Steptoe & Johnson.
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP added three more intellectual property lawyers to its southern California offices from Dickstein Shapiro LLP, one week after luring away three other IP partners from the same firm.
Manatt also added an IP partner from Steptoe & Johnson LLP.
This week, partner Michelle A. Cooke, who led the trademark transactional practice in California for Steptoe & Johnson, joined Manatt’s Los Angeles office along with former Dickstein Shapiro counsel Ehab M. Samuel and associate David D.N. Kim. Former Dickstein Shapiro counsel Charles A. Kertell and patent agent Shyh-Jye Wang joined Manatt in Costa Mesa.
“One of the most valuable assets a company has is its intellectual property,” said Matt Kanny, chair of Manatt’s litigation group, in a statement. “Michelle is an exceptional advisor and protector. She is highly regarded for her sophisticated and strategic approach to trademark issues and for helping clients develop and manage brand portfolios. Her impressive business and tech savvy will be a great benefit to clients and a resource for our strong and growing practice. Michelle is a terrific addition.” Manatt declined an interview request.
Last week, Manatt welcomed partners Robert W. Dickerson Jr. and Lawrence LaPorte to the Los Angeles office and Yasser El-Gamal in the Orange County office, all from Dickstein Shapiro. A total of six IP attorneys have left Dickstein Shapiro, which now has one IP associate in southern California and the Orange County office has been eliminated, according to a Dickstein Shapiro spokeswoman.
“In our nationally recognized Intellectual Property practice, we are fortunate to have deep relationships with exceptional clients, who are and will continue to be served by attorneys across our offices in California and on the East Coast,” said Jeffrey K. Sherwood, IP practice leader at Dickstein Shapiro, in a statement.
The firm plans to focus its California presence in its Los Angeles and Palo Alto offices.
Multilawyer moves in one practice can hurt a firm, if the practice was only in one office.
“They still have a strong IP group in Palo Alto,” said Roberta Kass, a legal recruiter at Seltzer Fontaine Beckwith in Los Angeles. “It’s a lot harder if the department had been decimated statewide, so I don’t think it’s going to be impossible to rebuild.”
Samuel, Kim and Kertell were represented by Larry Watanabe of Watanabe Nason LLC in their moves, according to Manatt.