Patent Attorneys John C. Laurence, Joan L. Simunic, and Philippe Laguerre have joined Flaster Greenberg in its Intellectual Property Department and as members of the firm’s Patent Practice Group.
These additions come on the heels of five additional patent attorneys who started at the firm last Fall and, together, they bring the department’s total number of attorneys to 23 making it the largest department in the firm.
The attorneys, headquartered in Flaster Greenberg’s Philadelphia and New York offices, focus their practices on all aspects of intellectual property rights, including patent prosecution, counseling and opinions, due diligence, post-issuance proceedings, litigation, and licensing.
“The addition of these three attorneys continues our growth in this very strategic practice area and meaningfully enhances the scope and depth of the IP Services that Flaster Greenberg provides,” said Michael Piscitelli, chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Department.
Counsel John C. Laurence has experience in many facets of intellectual property with a focus on patent prosecution and enforcement, trademarks, and copyrights. Laurence has prepared and prosecuted patent applications across various technologies including computer systems, communication systems, semiconductor manufacturing systems, networks, software methods, electrical devices and circuits, mechanical devices, internet-based technologies, and business methods. He also has experience practicing before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).
Before becoming an attorney, Laurence worked as an electrical and computer engineer primarily in the broadcast and video production industries. Laurence started at Flaster Greenberg on April 17, 2023, and previously worked for a law firm in New York, New York.
Of Counsel Joan L. Simunic, Ph.D. has more than 25 years of experience in patent prosecution, counseling and opinions, due diligence, licensing, patent infringement litigation, trademark prosecution, and trade secret protection in areas such as exosome-based compositions, catalyst compositions, nanomaterials, packaging films, graphene-based materials, virtual imaging software, fertilizer compositions and agricultural products.
Most recently, Simunic has provided legal services for start-up companies emerging from university incubators. She also served as general counsel for a multinational specialty chemical company, and vice president of corporate operations for a start-up biotechnology company.
In addition to her legal experience, Dr. Simunic has a Ph.D. in chemistry and extensive industrial experience directing interdepartmental scientific project teams. Simunic started at Flaster Greenberg on March 17, 2023, and previously worked for a private practice in Kentucky.
Associate Philippe Laguerre has almost ten years of experience developing and managing intellectual property strategy, strategic IP portfolios, and preparing, filing, and prosecuting intellectual property applications. Most notably, he has prepared, filed, and prosecuted more than 100+ patent and trademark applications, including extensive PTAB experience.
Laguerre’s focus includes industries such as telecommunications, computer and software technology, mechanical structures, medical devices, hydroelectric technology, renewable energy, and biotech.
Laguerre obtained a bachelor’s degree with a double major in electrical/computer engineering and mathematics from Andrews University. He also minored in Spanish and music performance. Laguerre received a J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, and a LL.M. in French, European, and International Business Law from the University of Paris I-Pantheon-Sorbonne. He speaks French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, and Chinese.
Laguerre started at Flaster Greenberg on April 17, 2023. He previously worked for an IP private practice and in the field of Intellectual Property for a semiconductor solutions company in California.
ABOUT FLASTER GREENBERG PC:
Flaster Greenberg, a midsize business law firm with offices throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and in Florida, has been providing legal services to publicly traded corporations, privately held and family-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals for 50 years. With locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Florida, Flaster Greenberg serves a broad range of clients in dozens of industries and practice areas including aviation law, bankruptcy, business and corporate, cannabis, commercial litigation, elder and disability law, environmental, family law, gaming, healthcare, insurance recovery, intellectual property, labor and employment, real estate, taxation and trusts and estates.
