Dinsmore & Shohl LLP has hired three patent attorneys in its Washington, D.C. office to meet intense client demand in the field of intellectual property, and to continue the firm’s growth — despite the COVID-19 crisis.

Dating back to 1963, patent filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have grown by an average of 3.7 percent each year, up to 669,434 filings in 2019. In times of recession — particularly the last four recessions (2008-09, 2001, 1990-91 and 1980-82) — patent filings tend to stabilize, but that has then been traditionally followed by four years of intense growth, averaging out at 6.36 percent annually. Assuming the pandemic will cause the customary mild pause in patent-filing growth, it’s also fair to assume a significant rebound in patent filings in the years to follow, for which Dinsmore will be well-prepared.

“Many of our IP clients are being proactive about IP during the COVID-19 pandemic rather than just treading water. We saw a similar trend with some of our clients during the last recession,” said Dinsmore Patent Procurement Practice Group Co-Chair Brian Tent. “Our clients know the entire global economy is in a crisis, but they also see the value in continuing to build their IP, so they come out of it in an even better position. We are optimistic that our IP clients will continue to pursue the same strategy throughout the present crisis.”

          

Co-chair Matt Molloy added, “Innovation is central for our clients. It’s in their DNA. Even in down times, it is a continual focus for them, which means it is our focus as their attorneys.”

With the addition of partner John Teresinski and associates Vishak Ganesh and Scott Mandir, Dinsmore’s D.C. office now features seven intellectual property attorneys, bringing the firm’s total to over 110 and equipping Dinsmore locally to deftly meet the needs of current and prospective clients. During the Great Recession a decade ago, Dinsmore hired 23 IP attorneys. Since 2015 alone, more than 100 have joined the firm.

While Dinsmore’s patent group has long been strong across the country, bolstering its roster in the nation’s capital offers a significant advantage to clients of all sizes.

“Successful clients are driven by a long view,” Teresinski said. “They understand the importance of capturing innovation in a timely manner, and they rely on us even in uncertain times. Washington, D.C. is a key market with the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the patent office headquarters in Virginia.”

Teresinski comes to Dinsmore from Gordon & Rees, LLP. Like Teresinski, both Ganesh and Mandir also have electrical engineering backgrounds. Tereskinski’s clients regularly come from the computer and hardware industries, including in the fields of user experience, semiconductor, wireless communication, and display technologies. His extensive experience before the USPTO includes drafting and prosecuting patent applications, managing patent portfolios, and handling post-grant proceedings.

He decided to join Dinsmore for the opportunity to be part of a strong, national intellectual property group.

“Dinsmore is the right platform for my work and my clients,” Teresinski said. “The firm has a deep bench of skilled patent attorneys with a lot of technical knowledge.”

For Tent and Molloy, the feeling was mutual.

“John has had great success thus far in his career,” Tent said. “He’s established himself with some excellent clients, and we are looking forward to his continued success as he transitions to Dinsmore.”