Thompson Hine’s Washington Office Expands IP Practice

Clifton McCann Fifth Top-Tier Lateral Hire in Recent Months

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Thompson Hine LLP is pleased to announce the arrival of Clifton McCann, who practices in the area of intellectual property dispute resolution. He joins the firm’s Washington, D.C. office from Venable LLP.

“I am excited about the opportunity to join a fast-growing practice at a firm focused on client service and value. In addition, my clients will benefit from the additional resources of my new partners in areas such as venture capital, product liability litigation, international trade and government contracts.”

His addition falls on the heels of recent additions of a highly regarded team of transportation and international trade lawyers who joined the D.C. office – Charles A. Hunnicutt, Brent Connor and Patricia N. Snyder – and well-regarded construction litigator Lawrence Prosen.

McCann’s practice focuses on the development and defense of patent rights in the chemical, biological, mechanical and software/business method arts. His technical background is in chemistry, biotech and physics, and he is admitted to practice before the United States Patent & Trademark Office. McCann’s practice involves a full range of intellectual property services with an emphasis on litigation, which makes up about two-thirds of his practice. As first-chair trial and appellate counsel, he has an undefeated record in patent infringement litigation.

Among his many successes are serving as lead trial counsel for patentee Ecolochem (now part of GE) in Ecolochem, Inc. v. Southern California Edison Co. The 10-year litigation, which included a three-week liability trial and week-long damages trial, resulted in a judgment of validity and willful infringement, with damages and $4 million in attorney fees awarded to the client. McCann successfully argued two related appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the defendant’s petition for certiorari on the second appeal was denied. Edison paid Ecolochem an eight-figure amount in settlement at the conclusion of the damages trial.

“Thompson Hine’s intellectual property platform in Washington has a growing reputation,” said McCann of his decision to join the firm. “I am excited about the opportunity to join a fast-growing practice at a firm focused on client service and value. In addition, my clients will benefit from the additional resources of my new partners in areas such as venture capital, product liability litigation, international trade and government contracts.”

Thompson Hine’s Washington office is well poised for growth, having moved several months ago to new office space at 1919 M Street, N.W. after outgrowing its prior space. “We are pleased to welcome yet another top-notch lawyer to our Washington office. Last year we brought on John Ryan and Tom Haas as IP partner and as counsel, and we are excited about further expanding the group, strengthening our ability to provide a full range of IP services – from counseling to litigation.” said David A. Wilson, office partner-in-charge.

About Thompson Hine LLP. Established in 1911, Thompson Hine is a business law firm dedicated to providing superior client service. The firm has been recognized for ten consecutive years as a top law firm in the country for client service excellence in The BTI Client Service A-Team: Survey of Law Firm Client Service Performance. With offices in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, New York and Washington, D.C., Thompson Hine serves premier businesses worldwide. For more information, please visit www.ThompsonHine.com.