McDermott Loses Three IP Partners to Weil, Gotshal

McDermott, Will & Emery has lost three intellectual property partners to Weil, Gotshal & Manges, including the former deputy head of the firm’s intellectual property, media & technology group, Brian Ferguson. He helped start McDermott’s IP group 12 years ago when he and 16 others joined from Chicago-based IP firm Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione. Last year, Ferguson successfully argued for the petitioner in In re Seagate Technology in the Federal Circuit, which raised the standard for proving willful infringement in patent cases.

Partners Mark Davis and Ronald Pabis also made the jump. Davis specializes in litigating IP disputes and related antitrust matters. He also represents clients before the International Trade Commission, and previously served as head of McDermott’s ITC practice. Pabis litigates complex patent and trade-secret cases.

In this year’s Am Law 100, McDermott reported profits per partner of $1.52 million, and Weil, Gotshal reported PPP of $2.115 million.