PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Duane Morris LLP announced today that it has opened an office in Palo Alto, California, with the addition of prominent IP litigator Karineh Khachatourian, who will serve as managing partner of the new office. Khachatourian joins the firm from K&L Gates LLP. The move allows Duane Morris to provide more efficient and direct service to clients throughout Silicon Valley and enhances its capabilities in California and nationally.

A global high-technology hub and home to many of the world's most successful and innovative companies, Silicon Valley is a natural fit for Duane Morris' strengths in patent litigation and patent prosecution, trademarks and copyrights, venture capital, private equity and related commercial litigation. Attorneys from the firm's existing four California offices who work extensively with high-tech clients will bring an immediate and broad base of experience to the new office, particularly in the areas of patent portfolio management, technology licensing, life sciences and immigration.

"Our expansion into Silicon Valley is an exciting opportunity for us," said Duane Morris Chairman John Soroko. "Duane Morris lawyers will now be able to work from an office close to our clients, supported and augmented by our lawyers based throughout California and more broadly throughout the firm. Karineh Khachatourian brings to Duane Morris a stellar reputation, established relationships with local companies and proven skills as an IP litigator. We look forward to working with her to achieve future growth in Silicon Valley."

L. Norwood "Woody" Jameson, chair of the Duane Morris Intellectual Property practice, commented: "Our new office in Silicon Valley represents a key strategic growth initiative for us, and is a direct response to feedback from our clients. The leadership group of our IP practice is making a substantial commitment to the West Coast, with a priority on strategic hiring for Silicon Valley, as well as our other California offices. Karineh's addition is a big step in that direction." 

Earlier this year, U.S. News-Best Lawyers awarded Duane Morris top-tier national rankings in Patent Law and Venture Capital Law. Other national publications, such as Intellectual Property Today and IP Law360, have ranked Duane Morris among the leading law firms handling patents, trademarks, copyrights and related IP litigation. In addition, Corporate Counsel magazine's 2011 review of "Who Represents America's Biggest Companies" listed the firm among the top 10 "litigation kings" serving the intellectual property needs of Fortune 100 companies. Among the major Silicon Valley companies represented by Duane Morris is Cisco Systems, Inc., which in January 2012 designated the firm as winner of its "Litigation Counsel of the Year Award" for 2011 from among the many law firms that represent the company.

Khachatourian focuses her practice in the area of intellectual property litigation. She represents high-tech clients in Northern California in patent, trade secret, trademark and related commercial litigation and counsels clients in the area of IP enforcement. Khachatourian's technology focus includes computer hardware and software, with an emphasis on encryption technology, related consumer electronics and computer peripherals, and video gaming technology. Her work includes high-technology and design patent infringement and licensing disputes; inventorship and ownership issues; trade secret misappropriation, particularly with competitors and departing employees; and trademark infringement issues. She has also represented clients in the semiconductor, information technology, social media and enterprise cloud computing spaces.

She will be joined in the new Palo Alto office by Patrick S. Salceda, an associate who also joins Duane Morris from K&L Gates LLP.  Salceda received his J.D. in 2006 from Santa Clara University School of Law.

"I'm excited by the potential Duane Morris represents here," said Khachatourian. "The firm's entrepreneurial culture, technical know-how and drive to find innovative solutions for clients match up well with the character of Silicon Valley. I am also pleased to be joined by the other Duane Morris lawyers on the West Coast and elsewhere, and look forward to collaborating closely with them."

Khachatourian is deeply involved with Silicon Valley networking organizations. She is an advisory board member of IP Counsel Cafe; chair of the Strategic Development Board and co-lead of General Counsel Network for Watermark, a group for executive women; a partner with Leading Women in Technology as well as with Chips, an organization that advances women in IP law; and the co-founder of Salonnieres, a social organization for women professionals.

Khachatourian is admitted to practice in California and Massachusetts. She earned her J.D. in 1997 from George Washington University Law School and her B.A., magna cum laude, in 1991 from New York University. She graduated as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

About Duane Morris

Duane Morris LLP, a global law firm with more than 700 attorneys in offices across the United States and around the world, is asked by a broad array of clients to provide innovative solutions to today's legal and business challenges. For more information, please visit www.duanemorris.com.

SOURCE Duane Morris LLP