Intellectual Property Partners Jennifer Chen and John Fuisz Join V&E

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Vinson & Elkins continues to strengthen its global Intellectual Property practice with the addition of two partners in Washington, D.C. The firm's newest partners, Jennifer Chen and John Fuisz, join an IP team bolstered by several recent hires in California and Texas, and the opening of the firm's Taipei office.

Chen and Fuisz represent and counsel clients in patent and technology asset creation, use and management, finding solutions by drawing from varied legal tools and collective experience, including patent licensing and litigation.

Fuisz has been in practice for more than 20 years and has collaborated with Chen for more than 15 years, including advising companies in Japan. Fuisz is a first chair litigator with extensive experience representing clients in patent infringement lawsuits, particularly before the United States International Trade Commission.

Chen is a seasoned IP licensing and transactional lawyer who has served as counsel for several major international technology companies.

"John and Jennifer are outstanding lawyers and their addition reinforces our commitment to building and maintaining a world-class intellectual property practice," said V&E Chairman Mark Kelly. "Our newest partners are joining the firm during a period of exciting growth in our IP group, which has also included the addition of several key partners on the West Coast and in Texas, as well as the launch of our IP-focused Taipei office."

Chen's experience includes negotiating patent license agreements, know-how license agreements, joint research and development agreements and developing patent portfolio management strategies. She has litigated patent disputes before district courts and the ITC involving a wide array of technology and served as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

For five years, Chen was an attorney for Hitachi, Ltd., resident in its Tokyo-based intellectual property group, where she helped manage a substantial patent portfolio and develop and execute complex licensing strategies. She also worked on licensing matters with other Asian technology companies, including in Taiwan and South Korea.

Chen earned her law degree from George Washington University Law School and is a registered patent attorney.

"Vinson & Elkins' reputation for excellence, vision of its leadership, and commitment to growing its intellectual property practice were especially attractive draws for us," said Fuisz.

"The firm's global platform allows us to better serve the increasing needs of our clients, and John and I are excited about the opportunities presented by V&E's presence in the Asia Pacific, including Taiwan and Japan. We couldn't be more thrilled about joining the firm," added Chen.

Over the course of his career, Fuisz has represented clients in patent litigation and related technology disputes such as 35 U.S.C. §146 actions, and breach of technology related contracts. He has appeared before the ITC, the PTAB, and numerous federal district courts, including the Northern District of California, the Eastern District of Texas, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the District of Delaware.

Some of his notable representations include representing Hitachi Ltd. in a major ITC Investigation concerning RAID storage systems, representing a major medical device company in coordinated patent priority, patent infringement and breach of contract actions relating to AAA bifurcated stent grafts, and obtaining the second largest fine ever imposed by the ITC for violation of a consent order.

Fuisz earned his law degree from Catholic University and his LL.M from George Washington University Law School and is a registered patent attorney.

"Jennifer brings a wealth of insight to the table and we believe her international IP counselling practice will generate synergy with V&E's robust Taiwan practice," said Darryl Woo, co-head of V&E's Intellectual Property practice. "Likewise, John's significant ITC litigation experience and his ability to find innovative solutions will greatly benefit our clients around the world. And together they boost our Japan IP practice. They are a welcome addition to our growing intellectual property group."

Prior to joining V&E, Chen and Fuisz were both formerly partners with McDermott Will & Emery before they each launched successful independent law practices, which they combined in 2015 as Fuisz Chen LLP. During their time at McDermott, Chen and Fuisz were colleagues of Craig Seebald, who currently serves as managing partner of V&E's Washington, D.C. office.

"Jennifer and John are great additions to the firm and the Washington, D.C. office," Seebald said. "In addition to being highly talented attorneys, they have a collegial nature that will fit well with our firm's culture. I have every confidence that their abilities will add to the spectacular growth of our IP group at V&E."

The addition of Chen and Fuisz follows V&E's recent hire of five IP litigation partners in Texas. In June, Fred Williams, Michael Simons, Todd Landis and Eric Klein joined the firm from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, along with Craig Tyler from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati PC.

In May, V&E opened an office in Taipei, which is focused on serving the U.S. intellectual property and commercial litigation needs of more than 40 Taiwanese companies introduced to the firm through the addition of partners Chris Kao and David Tsai, who joined V&E's IP practice in San Francisco and Palo Alto last September. They joined Woo, who previously had chaired the Litigation and Patent Litigation Groups of Fenwick & West. Woo now co-chairs V&E's IP Group along with Hilary Preston.

V&E's global IP practice, which spans eight offices worldwide, has an established record in obtaining, protecting, defending and enforcing clients' intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks, trade dress, trade secrets and copyrights. The firm's lawyers have litigated such matters in state and federal district courts throughout the U.S. and have obtained results for V&E's clients at the U.S. International Trade, before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and in a variety of appellate courts, including the Federal Circuit.

Vinson & Elkins LLP is an international law firm with approximately 650 lawyers across 16 offices worldwide. For more information, please contact Jeremy Heallen at +1.713.758.2079.

SOURCE Vinson & Elkins LLP