The firm’s new office is located in midtown Manhattan and will be headed by partner Adda Gogoris, a former principal at the recently shuttered Darby & Darby.
“The past two years have not been kind to many IP boutiques,” said Randy King, CEO and managing director of Merchant & Gould. “And we take no pleasure in the setbacks of so many friends and colleagues. But Merchant & Gould has continued to thrive despite this economic climate by staying true to its guiding principles.”
Gogoris will be joined in New York by partner Dianna Goldenson and patent agent Andrew Larsen. The firm’s New York office will offer a full range of IP services, including litigation, patent and trademark prosecution, portfolio management and assessment.
In other news, joining the firm’s Seattle office are Paul H. Beattie and Christopher Frank. Beattie previously worked as an IP litigator at Schwabe, Williamson, & Wyatt’s Seattle office.
Frank joins the office as a technical advisor. He will support patent procurement and client counseling in the fields of biotechnology and chemistry. He was previously a scientific advisor at Darby & Darby.
Joining the firm’s office in Alexandria, Va. are E. Joseph Gess and Melissa M. Hayworth. Both partners were formerly with Crowell & Moring.
Gess’ has a chemical patent practice with a focus on client counseling, including inter-parties proceedings and developing IP strategies.
Hayworth’s practice focuses on organic chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, and petroleum chemistry.
Merchant & Gould has more than 100 attorneys with offices in Atlanta, Denver, Knoxville, Madison, Minneapolis, New York, Omaha, Seattle and Washington D.C.