Akin Gump announced the addition of partners M. Andrew Holtman Ph.D. and C. Brandon Rash to its intellectual property practice in Washington, D.C. Both come to Akin Gump from the IP boutique firm Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP.

Dr. Holtman and Mr. Rash are well regarded for their work representing clients in the high-tech sector in all aspects of patent litigation. This includes handling matters before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)—where Dr. Holtman is one of the country’s most active patent attorneys, the International Trade Commission (ITC), district courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

“Our IP team has a well-established reputation as a go-to firm for life sciences and high tech-focused patent disputes, and the addition of Andy and Brandon will be a perfect complement to those strengths,” said Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “Both are excellent patent lawyers who will bring tremendous knowledge and experience to our clients. I am delighted to welcome them to the firm.”

“Patent disputes can be incredibly complex and technical, requiring both detailed subject matter knowledge and a keen understanding of the litigation process,” noted Steven D. Maslowski, head of Akin Gump’s intellectual property practice. “Andy and Brandon bring those skills and more to our practice. Their work in the areas of electronics, computing and software, in particular, will align well with our established strengths handling life sciences and tech-related patent disputes, and I am very happy to welcome them to the team.”

Dr. Holtman and Mr. Rash focus on matters relating to electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, software arts, and drug and biological molecular science. They also regularly provide counsel regarding litigation strategy and other IP-related matters.

“Brandon and I are extremely excited to be at Akin Gump,” said Dr. Holtman. “The firm is highly regarded in the IP space and boasts a broad-based international platform that allows it to serve clients effectively across many other areas. We look forward to the terrific opportunities available here to work with our clients.”