Firm Welcomes Five New Patent Attorneys
Patent Attorneys Chad E. Ziegler, Robert E. Gordon, Jianwu Gong, Michael A. LaFlame, Jr. and Joseph T. McGinnis have joined Flaster Greenberg in its Intellectual Property Department and as members of the firm’s Patent Practice Group. Ziegler, Gordon, Gong, LaFlame, and McGuiness will be headquartered in the firm's Philadelphia office, focusing their practices on all aspects of intellectual property rights, including patent prosecution, counseling and opinions, due diligence, post-issuance proceedings, litigation, and licensing.
The attorneys are the latest in a series of additions to the firm. Flaster Greenberg has added 36 attorneys over the last two years, fifteen of which are members of the firm’s patent practice. The full team of lawyers practicing in this area includes Shareholders Ross E. Alexander, Michael J. Bonella, Eric R. Clendening, Jeffrey A. Cohen, Thomas J. Durling, Aaron R. Ettelman, Joseph R. Klinicki, Jordan A. LaVine, Joseph F. Oriti, Department Chair Michael F. Piscitelli, Chad E. Ziegler, Counsel Robert Gordon, and Associates Benjamin Chalfin, Jianwu Gong, Krishna A. Jani, Joshua R. Javitz, Coraleine J. Kitt, Michael A. LaFlame, Jr., Joseph T. McGinnis, Aakash Patel, and Ryan Peddle.
“The addition of these five attorneys continues our growth in this very strategic practice area and meaningfully enhances the scope and depth of the IP services that Flaster Greenberg provides. Talent begets talent and, at this point, there are probably not many firms in the Philadelphia area that have greater depth in IP than Flaster Greenberg,” said Jordan A. LaVine, Flaster Greenberg co-managing shareholder.
Michael Piscitelli, chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Department adds, “These new attorneys strengthen our breadth of technical and legal knowledge and experience and ensure that the firm can best serve our diverse client base.”
Shareholder Chad E. Ziegler joined Flaster Greenberg in October from Gardella Grace P.C. He brings more than 20 years of trademark procurement, clearance, counseling, and litigation experience to the firm. He has worked in diverse technology spaces such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, AI and machine learning applications for risk management, market analysis software tools, and more. Ziegler has also litigated complex IP disputes and represented clients in cases involving complex scientific technology in various fields including genetics, electrical engineers, pharmacokinetics, and computer science. In addition, Ziegler has in-depth knowledge in negotiating and drafting intellectual property agreements and commercial agreements involving IP.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree, with high distinction, in biology from Albright College and his Juris Doctor from Ohio Northern University Claude Petit School of Law.
LaVine adds, “Chad has a wealth of experience in the areas of patent prosecution and patent litigation. His scientific background in biology and organic chemistry provides us with additional capability to more comprehensively handle patent matters in the life sciences field.”
Counsel Robert E. Gordon joined Flaster Greenberg in August from Rawle & Henderson, LLP. He brings more than 10 years of legal experience and an electrical engineering background to the firm. His practice includes performing patent searches and offering patentability opinions, including performing patent and trademark research, completing applications, and perusing trademark infringement matters for individual inventors and commercial clients. His patentable subject matter expertise ranges from the mechanical arts such as sporting goods, exercise machines, moving equipment, transportation devices, and auto parts to inventions for house cleaning products, apparel, and home goods, and much more.
Admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Gordon received his Bachelor of Science degree, with honors, in electrical engineering with a minor in mathematics from Pennsylvania State University and his Juris Doctor from Widener University – Delaware School of Law.
Associate Michael A. LaFlame joined the firm in October after spending more than ten years as a primary patent examiner at the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) where he worked closely with applicants to process their applications and determine whether a patent can be granted. He verified patent applications for technical accuracy and compliance, conducted research to apply and argue applicability of prior art to the claimed inventions, ensured patent applications conform to requirements of patent law, and reviewed case files for the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. He has also worked as a patent attorney in Maryland.
LaFlame received his Bachelor of Science degree in applied physics from Towson University, Master of Science degree in electrical and computer engineering from Old Dominion University, and Juris Doctor from University of Baltimore School of Law.
Associate Jianwu Gong, prior to joining the firm in September, was a legal intern at Penn State Law’s Intellectual Property Clinic. While at the Clinic, Gong met with clients, researched client technology, and analyzed factual and legal information to find solutions related to client IP needs. Gong also filed provisional and non-provisional applications for clients with the USPTO and responded to USPTO’s actions for non-provisional filings. Gong has also worked as a chemist and is fluent in three languages including Chinese, his native language, English, and Japanese.
Gong received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical physics from University of Science and Technology of China, Master of Science degree in chemistry from Iowa State University, and his Juris Doctor from Penn State Law.
Associate Joseph T. McGinnis joined the firm in September and recently received his Juris Doctor from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from Northeastern University, where he graduated magna cum laude. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a law clerk at a Pennsylvania firm where he drafted pre-litigation documentation and conducted document review and source checks. He also worked as a judicial intern for U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr. of the Middle District of Pennsylvania, for whom he conducted legal research, reviewed case files, and drafted reports.
ABOUT FLASTER GREENBERG PC: Flaster Greenberg, a midsize business law firm with offices throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and in Florida, has been providing legal services to publicly traded corporations, privately held and family owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals for 50 years. With locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Florida, Flaster Greenberg serves a broad range of clients in dozens of industries and practice areas including aviation law, bankruptcy, business and corporate, cannabis, commercial litigation, elder and disability law, environmental, family law, gaming, healthcare, insurance recovery, intellectual property, labor and employment, real estate, taxation and trusts and estates. For more news, follow us on Twitter @Flaster or visit our website at www.flastergreenberg.com.
