Combination Announcement Fuels Lateral Growth in Weeks Before Launch

In the six weeks after the announcement of Faegre Drinker’s Feb. 1 launch, six partners — including a four-member intellectual property team — joined legacy firm Drinker Biddle, each citing the coming combination as a factor in their move.

Adam Masin

The year began with the addition of product liability and mass torts litigator Adam Masin in Hartford, Connecticut, coming to the firm from Shipman & Goodwin.

For more than 20 years, Masin has managed and litigated dozens of pharmaceutical and medical device product liability cases for leading pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers and health care institutions. Masin counsels clients on products liability, medical negligence and commercial litigation disputes, and he advises companies on Food and Drug Administration issues, product risk management, and investigations. He is also particularly experienced in multidistrict litigation, consolidated state actions and individual lawsuits involving complex medical issues.

“The combination of these two exceptional firms and the growth of our Hartford office presents many opportunities for my practice,” Masin said about joining during this transformative time. “The combined firm unifies highly regarded and nationally ranked product liability and mass tort practice groups. Our team offers clients significant industry knowledge, deep bench strength, broad geographic reach, and all the resources necessary to deliver excellent client service.”

Timothy Scull, Kirstin Stoll-DeBell, Andrew Pouzeshi and Kathleen Ott

Four intellectual property lawyers joined Drinker Biddle as a team in January: Timothy B. Scull, Kirstin L. Stoll-DeBell, Andrew T. Pouzeshi and Kathleen E. Ott. The Denver-based group came to Drinker Biddle from Merchant & Gould P.C.

The team is primarily engaged in all aspects of patent law, including patent prosecution, patent litigation and complex patent portfolio analysis, with significant experience in the computer software, hardware and medical device sectors.

Scull noted, “Our team is excited to join Drinker Biddle at the time of this combination with Faegre Baker Daniels. Everyone we have met at the two firms has confirmed for us that their cultures and values match perfectly with one another, and with our own. The intellectual property practices of both firms are of the highest quality. Together, they make a formidable group that we are thrilled to be a part of.”

Scull’s practice centers on patent prosecution, patent analysis and trademark work, primarily in the software and information technology industries, as well as on computer architecture-related projects.

Stoll-DeBell has more than 20 years of experience litigating patents and trademarks. More recently, she has focused her practice on patent analysis related to patent litigation and licensing, as well as on related patent prosecution.

Pouzeshi focuses his practice on patent prosecution, and patent analysis work, primarily in the software and information technology industries, including computer software and hardware, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, telecommunications, medical devices, robotics and financial services.

Ott works on analyzing patents and protecting innovations for her software, medical device and pharmaceutical clients. Over the past decade, she has evaluated thousands of patents, drafted nearly 50 opinions of counsel, and guided her clients in patent portfolio strategy and management.

Laura Appleby

On the eve of Faegre Drinker’s debut, corporate restructuring partner Laura E. Appleby joined Drinker Biddle’s New York office, coming to the firm from Chapman and Cutler LLP.

For more than a decade, Appleby has represented clients across a broad range of industries in all aspects of complex bankruptcy proceedings, out-of-court restructurings and distressed transactions. She has experience representing bondholders, indenture trustees, financial institutions and other creditors in special situations, and she provides advice related to for-profit corporations, nonprofit entities and municipalities.

“I am thrilled to be joining during this combination,” Appleby said, “and have been impressed by the firms' compatibility and collaborative approach to client service. The combined strength of the firms' bankruptcy and restructuring teams is significant and I look forward to serving clients from this new platform.”