WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 4, 2008) – Making a prominent addition to its intellectual property practice on the East Coast, Morrison & Foerster LLP announced that senior patent litigator and IP transactional attorney Mark Ungerman has joined the firm as a partner in the Washington, D.C. office.

Mr. Ungerman brings a strong mix of technology experience to his 20-year patent litigation career. Prior to law school he was an electrical engineer with Hughes Aircraft Corp., developing both hardware and software systems. While attending law school, he was also a patent examiner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, focusing on communications and computer applications. He remains registered to practice before the PTO.

Mr. Ungerman concentrates on all aspects of patent litigation and adversarial negotiations. He regularly handles both defense and enforcement of patent cases, particularly in the areas of computer technology, electronics, and telecommunications. . Mr. Ungerman’s transactional work embraces patents, copyrights, trademarks, and licensing, as well as mergers & acquisitions, IP due diligence, and patent portfolio management strategies. His patent preparation and prosecution work focuses on computer-based applications involving business methods, microprocessors, and other electronic and mechanical systems.

“Bringing Mark into the firm is a tremendous addition to our Washington office and our firmwide IP practice,” said Steve Kaufmann, chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Litigation Department.

“Mark’s command of complex technology and engineering issues is most impressive, but he also grasps the nuances of patent processes stemming from his years as an examiner with the PTO, all of which distinguishes him as a highly skilled IP litigator and IP transactional counselor,” added Mr. Kaufmann.

Mr. Ungerman said he plans to continue focusing his practice around a core group of industries, primarily in telecommunications and infrastructure, electronics, financial services, and health care insurance.

“I’ve known a number of the IP attorneys at Morrison & Foerster for years and have always admired the firm’s prowess in patent litigation as well as its reputation in technology transactions and general IP counseling,” Mr. Ungerman explained. “On all levels, Morrison & Foerster’s global IP practice offers the right environment for me to continue building my practice with best-in-class representation, whether in litigation, transactions, patent prosecution, or general business advice.”

Mr. Ungerman arrives from the Washington office of Fulbright & Jaworski LLP, where he had headed the D.C. intellectual property and technology practice since 2002, and was also Washington coordinator for the firm’s information technology practice. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, where patent appeals are heard. He is an active member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association as well as of the Intellectual Property Owners Association and the Patent and Trademark Office Society.

Mr. Ungerman earned his J.D. from George Washington University in 1987 and his B.S. in electrical engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1981.