Banner & Witcoff, Ltd., a national intellectual property law firm that procures, enforces and litigates intellectual property rights throughout the world, announces the election of a firm president and nine shareholders, and the arrival of seven attorneys.

Thomas K. Pratt, Elected, President, joined the firm in 1992. Mr. Pratt focuses his practice on litigating and trying complex intellectual property matters. He has successfully represented clients in all phases of litigation, including trial, preliminary injunction hearings, Markman hearings and other pre-trial hearings, discovery, and pre- and post-trial motions. He has also engaged in successful appellate practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Mr. Pratt earned his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering and Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas. He practices in the firm’s Chicago office.

Katie Laatsch Fink, Elected, Principal Shareholder, Chicago, joined the firm in 2007. Ms. Fink’s practice focuses on intellectual property litigation. She represents clients in litigation matters involving utility patents, design patents, trademarks, trade dress, and copyrights. She also counsels clients concerning a range of trademark and copyright matters. Prior to law school, Ms. Fink worked as a program analyst at Lockheed Martin under a contract with the Federal Aviation Administration. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania and her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law.

Michael L. Krashin, Elected, Principal Shareholder, Chicago, joined the firm in 2005. Mr. Krashin focuses his practice on all areas of intellectual property law, including utility patents, design patents, trademarks, trade dress, copyrights, and trade secrets, with an emphasis on litigation and counseling. Mr. Krashin earned his Bachelor of Science degree in materials engineering, with distinction, from Iowa State University. He earned his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Aseet Patel, Elected, Principal Shareholder, Chicago, joined the firm in 2003 as a full-time patent agent during law school. Prior to law school, Mr. Patel was a U.S. Patent Examiner for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Mr. Patel focuses his practice on patent prosecution, counseling, and litigation matters primarily in the electrical, computer, and business method arts. Mr. Patel earned his Bachelor of Science degree in computer engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He earned his Juris Doctor from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Elizabeth A. Almeter, Elected, Shareholder, Washington, D.C., joined the firm in 2005. Ms. Almeter focuses her practice on patent procurement, opinions and counseling. Her experience includes preparation and prosecution of patents in the mechanical and computer arts, and in the electrical and business method technologies. Ms. Almeter earned her Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology. She earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the SUNY University at Buffalo Law School.

Michael S. Cuviello, Elected, Shareholder, Washington, D.C., joined the firm in 2010. He focuses on all aspects of patent portfolio development, including successfully representing clients in post-grant trials and reissue proceedings, prosecuting complex patent applications, and counseling clients on global patent strategies. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Cuviello spent 15 years as a designer/manager in the microcircuit, satellite system, and wireless communication fields. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, and his Master of Science degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California, San Diego. He earned his Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Azuka C. Dike, Elected, Shareholder, Chicago, joined the firm in 2010. Mr. Dike focuses his practice on a range of intellectual property matters, with an emphasis on patent infringement litigation, patent prosecution, and opinion counseling. His patent practice involves several fields, including computer hardware and software, business methods, design patents, and mechanical/electrical devices. Mr. Dike earned his Bachelor of Science degree in computer engineering and finance from Washington University in St. Louis. He earned his Juris Doctor from the Northwestern University School of Law.

Sean J. Jungels, Elected, Shareholder, Chicago, joined the firm in 2010. Mr. Jungels focuses his practice on all areas of intellectual property law. He has experience in researching and analyzing both legal and technical issues, drafting motions and opinions, and assisting in various phases of litigation and client counseling. Mr. Jungels earned his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He earned his Juris Doctor, with high honors, from the Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Rajit Kapur, Elected, Shareholder, Washington, D.C., joined the firm in 2012. Mr. Kapur focuses his practice on drafting and prosecuting patent applications for different technologies, researching and analyzing legal and technical issues, drafting opinions, and assisting in various phases of intellectual property litigation and counseling. Mr. Kapur earned his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, magna cum laude, from Tufts University. He earned his Juris Doctor from the George Washington University Law School.

William E. Wooten, Elected, Shareholder, Washington, D.C., joined the firm in 2012. Mr. Wooten focuses his practice on prosecution, litigation, and counseling in patent matters. He prepares and prosecutes patent applications directed to a wide range of technologies, including computer hardware and software, telecommunications, and business methods. Mr. Wooten earned his Bachelor of Science in computer science, summa cum laude, from North Carolina State University. He earned his Juris Doctor, with honors, from the University of North Carolina School of Law.

Banner & Witcoff welcomes the following new attorneys:

• Nicholas R. Battey, Associate (Chicago); patent litigation and prosecution, and trademark and trade dress; B.S. in nutrition and food science, University of Vermont; J.D., University of Illinois College of Law.
• Robert M. Boyd, Associate (Chicago); patent prosecution; B.S. in mechanical engineering, cum laude, Texas A&M University; M.E. in mechanical engineering, University of Texas, Arlington; J.D., Texas A&M University School of Law.
• Adam J. College, Associate (Washington, D.C.); intellectual property prosecution, litigation and client counseling; B.S. in electrical and computer engineering, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering; J.D., Georgetown University Law Center.
• Joshua L. Davenport, Associate (Washington, D.C.); patent prosecution, litigation and counseling; B.S. in electrical engineering, cum laude, University of Alabama; J.D., University of Alabama School of Law.
• Tyler V. Myers, Associate (Chicago); intellectual property litigation, prosecution and opinion counseling; B.S. in chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University; J.D., Northwestern University School of Law.
• Shambhavi Patel, Associate (Washington, D.C.); patent prosecution and litigation; B.S. in electrical and computer engineering, Carnegie Mellon University; J.D., George Washington University Law School.
• Camille Sauer, Associate (Washington, D.C.); utility and design patent procurement and intellectual property counseling; B.S. in aerospace engineering, with honors, Georgia Institute of Technology; J.D., University of Connecticut School of Law.

About Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.
A national intellectual property law firm with more than 90 attorneys and 90 years of practice, Banner & Witcoff, Ltd., provides legal counsel and representation to the world’s most innovative companies. Our attorneys are known for having the breadth of experience and insight needed to handle complex patent applications as well as handle and resolve difficult disputes and business challenges for clients across all industries and geographic boundaries. For more information, please visit www.bannerwitcoff.com.

Please direct all media inquiries to Amanda Robert at (312) 463-5465 orarobert@bannerwitcoff.com.