James Nault Discusses Potential Impact of Key U.S. Supreme Court Patent Case

Business Litigation Group Lawyer James Nault recently discussed the significance of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in a presentation to colleagues. Mr. Nault gave the presentation, “TC Heartland: Restricting Venue in Patent Infringement Actions - The Demise of the Eastern District of Texas??" to the Connecticut Bar Association's Intellectual Property Section and Appellate Advocacy Section, at a meeting in Hartford on June 20. Mr. Nault discussed details about the oral arguments, which he attended. He is a former colleague and friend of the victorious counsel of record for TC Heartland, Attorney Jim Dabney of Hughes Hubbard in New York. Mr. Nault played key excerpts of the oral argument and provided insights for patent, appellate, and general litigators, as well as insights from his post-argument discussion with Attorney Dabney. Mr. Nault presented the parties’ and amicis’ arguments and what the Court found persuasive and what it didn’t. Finally, he discussed the latest on whether the Eastern District of Texas is likely to recede as the patent litigation venue of choice and whether Connecticut is likely to see an increase in patent litigation cases, or whether there are factors involved that may militate against that result.

Robinson & Cole Receives 34 First-Tier Metropolitan Rankings and Three National Rankings in U.S. News – Best Lawyers Survey

Robinson & Cole received 34 first-tier metropolitan rankings in the 2014 "Best Law Firms" list from U.S. News & World Report. The firm also received three national rankings, including Tier 2 rankings for Information Technology Law and Land Use & Zoning Law and a Tier 3 ranking for Real Estate Law.

The rankings are presented in tiers, either on the national or metropolitan lists, by practice area. The 2014 national rankings cover 74 practice areas while the metropolitan rankings cover as many as 120 practice areas. Both rankings are based on surveys in which major clients and lawyers were asked to rate the law firms they consider best in their practice areas.

Super Lawyers® Names 61 Robinson & Cole Attorneys to 2013 List

A total of 61 Robinson & Cole attorneys were named Super Lawyers® in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Florida for 2013. The Super Lawyers® designation is based on regional balloting by attorneys, third-party research, and a peer review process encompassing myriad practice areas.

In addition, 19 attorneys at the firm were recognized as "Rising Stars." Read an explanation of the Super Lawyers methodology here.

Robinson & Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Attorney Count in Best Lawyers National Peer Review Survey

Robinson & Cole was again recognized as having the highest number of attorneys in Connecticut selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2014 (Copyright 2013 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.). Across the firm's practice groups and offices, 56 attorneys were named to this year's list, including 48 in Connecticut and 2 who received the distinction for the first time.

Additionally, three lawyers were named "Lawyer of the Year" for 2014. Judith M. Keppelman was named Hartford Trusts and Estates "Lawyer of the Year," Dwight H. Merriam was named Hartford Litigation - Real Estate "Lawyer of the Year," and James A. Wade was named Hartford Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants "Lawyer of the Year."

William J. Kelleher III Receives “40 Under 40” Award

Robinson & Cole LLP is pleased to announce that Fairfield resident William J. Kelleher, III was honored as one of 40 business professionals under the age of 40 who has achieved distinction as a leader in his field. The “40 Under 40” Award is given out by the Chambers of Commerce in Fairfield County in partnership with the Fairfield County Business Journal.

To view the press release and photo click here.

Robinson & Cole Attorney Presents to Massachusetts Association of Personnel Services on Proposed Noncompetition Agreement Act

Business litigation attorney John R. Bauer presented "The Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act: Ramifications for Staffing Industry Employers" to the Massachusetts Association of Personnel Services. Mr. Bauer discussed the background and key features of the proposed act. He also offered recommendations on how employers in the staffing industry should revise their policies concerning the use of employee noncompetition agreements if the act is adopted. Mr. Bauer has extensive experience in litigating and negotiating trade secret disputes and disputes concerning noncompetition, nonsolicitation, and nondisclosure agreements and regularly counsels clients concerning the drafting and enforcement of these agreements.

Robinson & Cole Attorney Quoted on Massachusetts Bill Aimed to Change State's Noncompete Landscape

Business litigation attorney John R. Bauer was quoted in a Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly feature story covering the widely followed Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act pending before the Commonwealth's House of Representatives. A respected media source on noncompetition law, Mr. Bauer contributed comments concerning the importance of the act and the impact it will have on Massachusetts companies, calling it a "game-changer." He points out that because of ambiguities in the act, employers will have difficulty knowing in advance whether their employee noncompetition agreements will be enforced in court. In addition, Mr. Bauer suggests that because of the penalties the act imposes on employers who seek unsuccessfully to enforce their noncompetition agreements, employers may simply cease using noncompetition agreements altogether.

Robinson & Cole Attorney Lectures on Noncompetition Agreements at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management

Business Litigation attorney John R. Bauer recently delivered a lecture to an innovation and entrepreneurship seminar of business school students and alumni at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management. Mr. Bauer lectured on the legal framework governing the enforcement of noncompetition agreements in the United States and the proposed Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act currently being considered by the Massachusetts Legislature. Also lecturing were Professor Matt Marx of the Sloan School and Chief Executive Officer Branko J. Gerovac of Video in the Cloud.

Robinson & Cole Attorney Publishes Articles on Trade Secrets Audits and Assignability of Noncompetition Agreements

John R. Bauer, counsel in the Business Litigation Group, published an article in the February 2010 edition of Connections: The Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Newsletter. The article, "Can You Keep a Secret? Why Now is the Time for a Trade Secrets Audit," encourages companies to conduct trade secrets audits, first, to identify company information that should be protected and that courts may recognize as trade secrets, and, second, to assess whether measures currently employed to protect confidential information are effective. Mr. Bauer also published an article in the January 2010 issue of New England In-House. The article, "States Divided Over Asset Purchases and Noncompetes," explores variations in state laws concerning the assignability of noncompetition agreements during asset purchase transactions.

Robinson & Cole Partner Quoted on International Agreement to Bolster Intellectual Property Enforcement

Business Litigation attorney Brian E. Moran is quoted in the article “Global IP Treaty Talks Spur Enforcement Concerns” by Ryan Davis in Law360. Mr. Moran was quoted about a controversial proposal floated by the U.S. at the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) talks in December. The proposal would require Internet service providers to act against copyright infringement by their users, including terminating service. The memo prompted criticism by technology advocacy groups, which claim ACTA favors copyright holders.

Mr. Moran concedes that the idea of an international agreement to beef up enforcement of intellectual property rights “makes a lot of sense” from a policy standpoint, because it recognizes the scope of piracy and the value of intellectual property as an economic driver. However, a graduated response requiring Internet service providers (ISP) to “cut off” service seems “a little extreme.” “It’s not like they’re dealing securities, and you can revoke their license,” Mr. Moran said. Any user who has Internet service cut off will simply “hop from ISP to ISP” to find another way to get online, he said.

Mr. Moran said a more effective approach is to give safe harbor to ISPs who turn over to copyright holders the identity of users who download infringing material, rather than requiring providers to take action. ISPs historically are reluctant to provide such information, citing concerns about privacy, free speech and lawsuits from users who are identified. But if companies feel they are not liable, it would remove that impediment and allow copyright holders to enforce intellectual property rights, he said.