IP practice grows
CHARLOTTE, N.C., — Smith Moore Leatherwood is strategically expanding its Charlotte office as the firm enters 2011. Partner J. Clinton Wimbish and Associate John Zimmer join, rounding out the firm's intellectual property practice with substantial experience in intellectual property and patent portfolio management.
"The addition of Clint and John is part of an overall strategic growth initiative for our Charlotte office," said Rob Marcus, chairman of the firm’s management committee. "Clint and John bring substantial experience in the area of intellectual property to our office."
J. Clinton Wimbish
Clint Wimbish joins Smith Moore Leatherwood as a partner. He brings extensive experience in intellectual property law and patent prosecution and counseling. Before joining the Smith Moore Leatherwood team, Wimbish practiced for seven years in Charlotte and Winston-Salem.
Wimbish focuses his practice on the procurement of patent rights in the chemical and biochemical fields with special emphasis on inorganic and organic nanomaterials. He regularly advises clients on comprehensive United States and international patent portfolio strategies in the fields of nanoligthography, organic and inorganic semiconductor materials, nano-biological materials, organic and inorganic photovoltaic materials and devices, polymeric materials, micro-optics and solid state and transition metal technologies. Wimbish additionally has significant experience counseling clients regarding the commercialization of various technologies including advisement on freedom to operate and patent invalidity strategies.
He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Phi Beta Kappa, with distinction. He received his Master of Arts in Chemistry from Princeton University in 2000, and his law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law in 2003 where he was a Mildred A. and William A. Johnson Scholar.
Dr. John P. Zimmer
Dr. John Zimmer joins Smith Moore Leatherwood as an associate. He focuses his practice on various patent-related matters including patent prosecution in the chemical and biochemical areas. Dr. Zimmer holds three patents related to colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals and has co-authored 13 papers appearing in peer-reviewed scientific journals, including the Journal of the American Chemical Society, Nature Biotechnology, Nature Medicine and Angewandte Chemie International Edition.
He graduated from Washington & Lee University, summa cum laude, with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Phi Beta Kappa. He received his doctorate in 2006 from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Inorganic Chemistry and his law degree in 2009 from University of South Carolina School of Law, summa cum laude.
Aleasha Vuncannon
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