Global law firm Shearman & Sterling has expanded its global Intellectual Property Litigation practice with the addition of partner Thomas Makin from Kenyon & Kenyon LLP. He has joined the firm as partner in New York.

“We are very pleased that this outstanding IP litigator is coming to Shearman & Sterling,” said Creighton Condon, the firm’s Senior Partner. “Tom has an established practice and outstanding reputation in this critically important area of focus for our clients.”

Adam Hakki, Global Head of Shearman & Sterling’s Litigation practice, added, “The addition of Tom is an important further step in the continued growth of our Litigation practice. His first-rate patent litigation expertise and focus on global corporate clients align exceptionally well with our clients’ needs and platform.”

“In addition,” said Richard Hsu, who leads Shearman & Sterling’s global Intellectual Property & Technology Transactions Group, “this exceptional litigator, in combination with our transactions-based IP team, will enable us to address all of our clients’ IP-related needs.”

Makin’s practice focuses on patent litigation in federal court and before the International Trade Commission. Makin regularly appears before the US Patent and Trademark Office and advises clients regarding both substantive patent law and patent valuation and licensing issues. He has worked across a wide range of technological fields, including vehicular safety and propulsion systems, LEDs, smartphone applications, rechargeable batteries, imaging systems, medical devices, and semiconductor fabrication and circuitry.

Added Makin, “We have all seen the globalization of patents and IP disputes, and we are very excited about the opportunity to provide additional support to Shearman & Sterling’s existing IP clients.”

Shearman & Sterling’s Intellectual Property Litigation practice offers a full range of legal services relating to the enforcement and commercial exploitation of intellectual property and technology assets, working in conjunction with the firm’s highly regarded 100-plus litigation and global arbitration groups. The group’s services include litigation and dispute resolution, global coordination of IP disputes, inter partes proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and strategic litigation counseling. The firm’s IP litigation lawyers make use of an extensive international footprint to serve as global coordinating counsel in multi-jurisdictional cases and have extensive experience working with the most qualified firms in local jurisdictions. In addition, the firm’s Intellectual Property Transactions Group counsels clients on IP issues arising in all types of corporate and financial transactions. The group handles critical IP due diligence and the development of intellectual property portfolio strategies. The group also works closely with corporate, antitrust and tax lawyers in order to deliver intellectual property law advice from an integrated, multidisciplinary point of view.