New firm signals growth in area IP law practice

National law firm LeClairRyan officially opened its Rochester office just a week ago, recruiting a dozen local attorneys from Nixon Peabody LLP.

The new LeClairRyan office, located in Linden Oaks, focuses on intellectual property, commercial litigation and restructuring and bankruptcy. The firm will expand into other practice areas as well, according to newly named managing partner, Andrew Zappia.

Given LeClair’s existing ties to the biotech, pharmaceutical, software, physical science and other industries, the move “just made sense,” said Zappia, a former partner with Nixon Peabody.

“With its very attractive clients, LeClairRyan offered us a very nice opportunity to grow our practices,” he said.

The new office, which opened Dec. 31, is the latest that the firm has opened in the northeastern United States over the past few years. In 2006, LeClair opened an office in New York City, followed by other branches in Boston, Newark, N.J., and Hartford and New Haven, Conn., said firm Chairman and CEO Gary D. LeClair.

The level of legal talent in Rochester was also a draw, LeClair said.

“In the law business, at the end of the day, talent wins,” he said. “We have recruited an amazing group of talented [individuals].”

In addition to Zappia, Nixon Peabody partners Michael Goldman, Gunnar Leinberg, Gregory Mascitti and Richard McGuirk have joined LeClair’s local office.

Mascitti, who will also work out of the firm’s New York City office, handles financial restructuring, bankruptcy and commercial litigation matters. McGuirk focuses on intellectual property, commercial and securities litigation.

Zappia, Leinberg and Goldman work in intellectual property, including patent prosecution, post-issuance patent matters and IP litigation. Goldman will also serve on the firm’s board of directors.

In addition, the firm has hired Wendell Harris, Tate Tischner and Ted Merkel, who also formerly worked in Nixon Peabody’s Rochester office; Shelly Jones of Nixon’s Washington, D.C. office; Jeff Townes of Nixon’s Alexandria, Va. office; Suvashis Bhattacharya, of Nixon’s San Francisco office, and Georgia Evans, of Nixon’s Chicago office.

Also joining LeClair are former Nixon Peabody associates Megan Thisse, Michael Crosnicker and Carissa Childs.

Zappia said the exodus had nothing to do with conditions at Nixon Peabody.

“All I can say is that Nixon is a great firm, but this was a [great] opportunity,” he said.

Representatives from Nixon Peabody have offered no comment other than a prepared statement.

“We continue to have a very strong office in Rochester and provide expertise to our clients across the nation and internationally,” spokeswoman Allison McClain said. “Our Intellectual Property Department is a nationally ranked top-practice, we have strong capabilities across the firm including in the life sciences area, and we continue to attract top talent in Rochester and nationally.”

Tom FitzGerald, a partner at Hiscock & Barclay LLP and co-head of of its Patents & Prosecution Practice Area, believes that the coming of LeClair points to the overall health of the region’s legal market and the quality of regional lawyers.

“We’re seeing a national firm looking at Rochester,” he said. “To me, that speaks well of the state of intellectual property practice here.”