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Fulwider Patton LLP Attorney Co-Creates State Bar IP Litigation Standing Committee - First Teleconference An Outstanding Success

(Los Angeles, CA) March 4, 2008. A highly successful teleconference on Tuesday, February 19th initiated the State Bar Intellectual Property Section's newest Standing Committee, Litigation - the brainchild of Scott R. Hansen, Of Counsel at Fulwider Patton LLP in Los Angeles. This virtual noontime meeting drew an "overflow" crowd to hear Alan P. Block, Esq., of Hennigan, Bennett & Dorman LLP in Los Angeles discuss "Pre-Filing Considerations in Patent Litigation." So popular did the program prove to be that the telephone service provider was not prepared to handle all the potential participants, and a number of them had to be content with a post-conference report provided by Hansen.

It was last year, while testifying as an expert in a patent arbitration, that Hansen initially came to appreciate the value of practical experience in perfecting an intellectual property litigator's skills. "There's an art to every step of the litigation process, especially in trial work, and there's such little time to get everything done," says Hansen. "We felt that there was a need for programs addressing issues that IP litigators face in practice." Thus he began to devise a proposal for a State Bar committee that would offer a series of programs on practical aspects of IP litigation, and to create an informal forum where IP litigators could exchange ideas. Hansen was soon joined in his crusade by Craig E. Holden, in-house litigation attorney at MGA Entertainment in Van Nuys, and together, late last year, the two men successfully persuaded the State Bar to vote authorization of the Litigation Standing Committee.

The Committee's initial teleconference program on February 19 was hosted by Hansen and Holden . Flattering as it may have been to be doing "turn-away business," Hansen assures all interested parties that future teleconferences will be prepared to handle an unlimited number of people phoning in. Tentatively planned topics for future events include, "Jury Selection for IP Cases," and "Litigation Before the International Trade Commission." In the meantime, Hansen points out that the new Committee has already begun fulfilling its function of offering practical assistance to IP attorneys, citing as an example the checklist prepared by Block for "Pre-Filing Investigation of a Patent Case," available at the "Litigation" link at the State Bar's website, www.calbar.org/ipsection. Those wishing to join the Committee, or who have comments or questions, are invited to contact the Committee Co-Chairs, Scott R. Hansen at SHansen@fulpat.com and Craig Holden at CHolden@mgae.com.

Fulwider Patton LLP is a full service intellectual property law firm serving clients in all areas of intellectual property including patents, trademarks, copyrights, Internet domain name disputes, trade secrets and unfair competition. From its office in Los Angeles, Fulwider Patton LLP represents clients worldwide.

Contact: James W. Paul or Scott R. Hansen (310) 824-5555