Moving up in this year's patent contentious rankings, Covington & Burling's growing IP practice has been noted by peers and clients. The patent group, concentrated in Washington, DC, and California, regularly handles matters for Samsung, Verizon and brand pharmaceutical companies. "From an early-stage assessment perspective and in a defence-side litigation context, its ability to tailor advice is outstanding," said a client. "In the end, Covington's counsel always helps to frame the bottom-line questions from our business clients in a manner that is concise and clear."
The firm's IP team was strengthened with the dissolution of San Francisco firm Heller Ehrman in 2008 and as a result the addition of litigators Robert Haslam, Robert Fram and Sturgis Sobin. "Bob is the consummate first-chair patent lawyer who loves to roll up his sleeves and get to the heart of the case-dispositive technological issue," said a client of Haslam. Fram, observed one legal commentator, "can engage a client or an adversary on an IP litigation matter at any level of detail". Noted for his work handling Section 337 litigation, Sturgis "brings a wealth of experience and a detailed knowledge of the intricacies of ITC practice that is invaluable", said one competitor. Another added: "His tenure at the Commission brings a level of credibility that is hard to find outside of a select group of specialists."
Star patent litigator George Pappas obtained a summary judgment in favour of Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical that prevented Lupin Pharmaceuticals from marketing a generic version of its drug Levaquin. The firm also represents Monsanto in a widely publicised patent infringement suit.