Armstrong Teasdale, Five Lawyers Earn Ranking as 2024 IP Stars

Armstrong Teasdale announces that the firm and its lawyers have been recognized among Managing IP’s 2024 IP Stars, a leading resource for companies and individuals looking for experienced legal practitioners for contentious and non-contentious IP advice.

Managing IP conducts rigorous research each year and ranks both firms and practitioners across six IP practice areas and more than 70 jurisdictions. In addition to the firm ranking as “Highly Regarded” for IP practice in Missouri, five firm lawyers were recognized for their patent and trademark experience. Partners Richard Brophy, Erin Florek, Christopher Goff and Patrick Rasche have been named Patent Stars. Partner Donna Schmitt was named a Trademark Star.

“I’m pleased to see our lawyers earn this well-deserved ranking and to be among those representing the firm’s deep IP bench,” said Brophy, who also leads the firm’s Intellectual Property Litigation practice. “We have more than 120 IP lawyers and business professionals with extensive experience across disciplines, jurisdictions and art units. This enables us to serve clients around the world, no matter their industry, or protection or enforcement needs.”

Armstrong Teasdale’s Intellectual Property lawyers represent some of the world’s largest companies across industry sectors in pursuing protection for their most valuable assets and innovations. From patents to trademarks, copyrights to licensing, defamation, technology transfers to opinion work and due diligence, firm lawyers actively protect clients’ most valuable assets in today’s competitive market.

Brophy has a proven track record of trying and winning complex intellectual property cases across the United States. Drawing on his expansive background as an aerospace engineer and computer scientist, Brophy’s practice encompasses many areas of complex civil litigation, though he focuses primarily on disputes involving patents, trademarks, copyrights and antitrust violations.

Florek assists medical device, chemical and life sciences companies in applying for and protecting U.S. and international patents. With an emphasis in medical device and chemical-related technology, she counsels clients on freedom-to-operate, patent infringement, patentability and due diligence issues. Florek regularly prepares noninfringement and invalidity opinions, and assists in litigation analysis and inter partes review proceedings.

Goff helps large companies secure, protect and enforce intellectual property rights. With an emphasis in medical device, chemical and biochemical patent preparation and prosecution, he counsels clients on freedom-to-operate issues, patent infringement issues, patentability and other due diligence issues. Goff is actively involved in working with clients in numerous post grant review matters, including a number of reexamination matters and inter partes reviews.

Rasche focuses on guarding the intellectual capital of both companies and individuals through U.S. and foreign patents across a broad range of diverse technologies. An experienced IP practitioner and former patent examiner, Rasche understands his clients’ needs as well as the changing law in this evolving field. His knowledge base includes homeland protection, medical imaging, motors, alternative energy, engines, advanced manufacturing and other technologies.

Schmitt leads the firm’s Trademark Services practice area. She strategically manages global trademark portfolios and advises clients on copyright, trade dress and trade secret matters. Businesses in a variety of industries look to her to handle domestic and foreign trademark prosecution and for guidance on trademark selection, use, registration, policing, protection, infringement and enforcement.