Barclay Damon announces the addition of a three-member intellectual property team from a Washington DC–based boutique IP law firm, led by Cook Alciati, partner. The team has joined Barclay Damon’s Intellectual Property Litigation and Patents & Prosecution Practice Areas. In addition to Cook, the group also includes Michael Dorfman, partner, and Joseph Hodler, of counsel.
The addition of this group, which will operate on a hybrid work model with physical desks in Barclay Damon’s Washington DC office, underscores the firm’s commitment to expanding its IP Practice Group’s footprint in major market offices and bolstering client support. In April 2024, partner Tony Gangemi moved his five-person IP group to Barclay Damon’s New Haven office from Murtha Cullina.
Alciati and his team have decades of experience litigating intellectual property cases, with a particular emphasis on patent litigation for domestic manufacturers, as well as cases involving companies in the telecommunications, networking, medical device, and commercial construction industries. His team represents clients in the full range of IP dispute settings, including in inter partes review proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board, appellate matters principally before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and federal district court jury and non-jury trials. As lead counsel, Alciati and his team have experience in all aspects of patent litigation, from the filing of the complaint through verdict, and have handled numerous Markman hearings, summary judgment hearings, and Daubert hearings in district courts throughout the country.
Alciati’s patent litigation acumen has been recognized by national publications, including on Managing IP Magazine’s Rising Stars list and IAM’s Patent 1000 and Strategy 300 lists, which are reserved for the world’s leading patent practitioners.
“Barclay Damon has a reputation for being a powerhouse IP firm, serving some of the largest and most sophisticated companies throughout the Northeast. I’m looking forward to helping the firm expand its IP service offerings in DC to better serve clients throughout the country,” said Alciati. “The firm’s full spectrum of services will be great for my clients, who will have access to the firm’s bench of talented attorneys in the event their legal needs extend beyond the scope of my practice.”
Denis Sullivan, Intellectual Property Practice Group leader, said, “The protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights continues to command the attention of our business partners and clients, and Barclay Damon has been focusing on strategically growing its footprint in the IP space in major market cities for several years.” He continued, “Cook’s team adds IP bench strength, particularly in litigation, to our well-established IP Practice Group, benefiting our existing clients and allowing us to broaden our reach.”
Lizz Acee, managing director of Barclay Damon’s major market offices, said, “Barclay Damon is continuing to grow in the Boston–Connecticut–NYC–DC corridor. With the addition of Cook, Michael, and Joseph, we’ve added 10 practitioners to our IP Practice Group since the start of the year. We are confident that the addition of Cook and his team will enhance our already-strong national IP Practice Group.”
For over two decades, Barclay Damon has been successfully pursuing a disciplined expansion strategy throughout its platform of offices in major and smaller markets. The firm’s recent deal history includes a combination with the 10-attorney business, construction, power and energy, real estate, and commercial litigation firm Shapiro, Lifschitz & Schram; the addition of 20 lawyers from LeClairRyan; the addition of seven wealth management planning and elder law attorneys from Lacy Katzen LLP; a combination with the 14-attorney bankruptcy firm Menter, Rudin & Trivelpiece, PC; and the addition of the 11-attorney energy-environmental firm Gilberti Stinziano Heintz & Smith, PC. The 65-lawyer Damon Morey LLP combined with the 210-lawyer Hiscock & Barclay in 2015, resulting in the name change to Barclay Damon LLP. The firm’s signature lateral recruitment and integration program has increased the firm from 50 to nearly 300 attorneys.
Barclay Damon attorneys team across offices and practices to provide customized, targeted solutions grounded in industry knowledge and a deep understanding of our clients' businesses. With nearly 300 attorneys, Barclay Damon is a leading regional law firm that operates from a strategic platform of offices in Albany, Boston, Buffalo, New Haven, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse, Washington DC, and Toronto. Our firm serves clients across the country and, for some practices, provides US legal services around the globe. For more information, visit our award-winning website at barclaydamon.com.