Boston, October 17, 2007 — Goodwin Procter LLP, one of the nation’s leading law firms, today announced the addition of two prominent attorneys to its growing Palo Alto office. Joining the firm as partners are Gerald Dodson and Erica D. Wilson, formerly partners at Morrison & Foerster.
Over his 30-year legal career, Dodson has served as lead trial and appellate counsel in many complex technology cases involving hundreds of millions of dollars. He is considered to be one of the leading patent litigators nationally and has represented companies in high stakes cases covering pioneering patents in the biotechnology, medical device, optical and electronic hardware and software industries. Wilson’s degree in computer engineering and her extensive work in the electrical engineering field, combined with her legal skills, provide her the foundation to excel at complex, technical patent litigation with particular strength in the electronics and biotechnology fields.
“Growing our presence in Northern California is key to serving our clients nationally,” said Regina M. Pisa, chairman and managing partner of Goodwin Procter. “Since we opened our Palo Alto office in June, we have focused on continuing our momentum, expanding our national footprint in the areas of private equity, technology companies and intellectual property as well as specialized services such as tax, fund formation and securities litigation.”
“These are extremely talented attorneys with a combined practice mix that will serve as a strong foundation from which we’ll continue to grow our presence in this market,” said Kathy Fields, co-chair of Goodwin Procter’s Palo Alto office, and a partner in the Business Law Department. “They have reputations for providing responsive service and cutting-edge legal work to national clients with whom they have developed extraordinary relationships.” The Palo Alto office has an established IP litigation team who joined the firm earlier this year from Townsend, Townsend and Crew.
Goodwin Procter has one of the largest intellectual property practices in the country and is ranked by IP Law & Business as one of the nation’s most active IP law firms. With 150 IP attorneys practicing nationally and resident in the firm’s Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., and Palo Alto offices, the firm specializes in both transactional and litigation matters and has helped clients develop and protect some of the most valuable brands in the marketplace.
“Jerry and Erica are joining an IP group that is focused on our clients’ business objectives and strategies,” said Thomas J. Scott, Jr., Chair of Goodwin Procter’s IP Practice. “They are immensely talented lawyers who will make an outstanding addition to our team. There is a true synergy with our existing practice and the types of clients they represent.”
Nationally, more than 60 Goodwin Procter attorneys are registered to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. The firm’s patent litigators have extensive experience applying the substantive law of intellectual property and excel at communicating complex technological concepts to judges and juries in a comprehensible and compelling manner.
About Goodwin Procter
Goodwin Procter LLP is one of the nation’s leading law firms with more than 850 attorneys in offices in Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. The firm’s core areas of practice are corporate, litigation and real estate, with specialized areas of focus that include financial services, private equity, technology, REITs and real estate capital markets, intellectual property, tax and products liability. Information may be found at www.goodwinprocter.com.
Partner Biographical Information:
Gerald Dodson has practiced in the area of patent litigation for the past 15 years. Over his 30-year legal career he has served as lead trial and appellate counsel in many complex technology cases involving hundreds of millions of dollars. He has represented biotechnology, electronics and consumer product companies on patent cases covering pioneering patents in the biotechnology, medical device, optical and electronic hardware, software and mechanical device fields. Dodson’s cases have established precedents in the areas of laches, written description, enablement and patent infringement jurisdiction.
Before going into private practice, Dodson served as Chief Counsel for the Health and Environment Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives, with the Solicitor's Office in the U.S. Department of the Interior, and as Assistant County Solicitor for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. In these capacities, he engaged in major Federal and State litigation and developed legislation focused on health and environmental laws. He also headed the congressional investigation of Union Carbide's pesticide plant disaster in Bhopal, India.
Dodson received his law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law a master of laws from the George Washington University Law School and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Lafayette College.
Erica D. Wilson’s practice is focused primarily on patent litigation, particularly in matters involving complex technology in the electronics and biotechnology fields. Wilson is experienced in every aspect of complex, technical litigation. She has been on trial teams in cases involving computer networks, semiconductor manufacture, DRAM technology and biotechnology. Her experience also includes the analysis and preparation of validity, infringement and enforceability opinions.
Prior to attending law school, she worked as a project engineer with M. Rosenblatt & Son in San Francisco managing structural and electrical engineers in designing HF and satellite communications systems for T-AGOS ships. Wilson served for six years in the U.S. Navy, attaining the rank of lieutenant. Her service included supervising the overhaul of U.S. Navy ships in private shipyards and coordinating the installation of weapons systems on warships. She was awarded medals for exceptional technical knowledge, completing installations on time and within budget and job performance.
Wilson received her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and a bachelors degree from the University of San Diego.