McDonald Hopkins announces expansion of Intellectual Property Department
McDonald Hopkins is proud to announce the expansion of its Intellectual Property Department with the addition of six talented attorneys: Aaron Fishman and Andrew Jenkins as Members, Tomoko Ishihara and Nobuhiko Sukenaga as Counsel, and Trevor Lewis and Nicholas Owens as Associates.
The attorneys join McDonald Hopkins from Pearne & Gordon, a Cleveland-based boutique intellectual property law firm, bringing decades of experience in patent preparation and prosecution, as well as international expertise, particularly with Japanese and French companies operating in the United States.
With this addition, the Intellectual Property Department grows to 20 attorneys, including 17 registered patent attorneys, supported by a skilled administrative and paralegal team. Beyond the numbers, this expansion enhances McDonald Hopkins’ global reach and its ability to deliver innovative solutions to a diverse client base, reiterating the firm as a destination for clients and top legal talent.
“The addition of the Pearne & Gordon group is a testament to McDonald Hopkins’ commitment to being a leader in the intellectual property field,” said David Cupar, the Chair of McDonald Hopkins’ Intellectual Property Department. “Their expertise in patent preparation and prosecution, particularly their strong ties to both American companies along with Japanese and French companies operating in the U.S., enhances our capacity to deliver top-tier service to clients across the globe. It opens the door to deeper collaborations and new clients in Asia and Europe. As intellectual property becomes increasingly critical in the global economy, having a team with established expertise in navigating complex international IP matters puts us in a great position.”
Aaron Fishman, an experienced attorney in preparing and prosecuting patent applications, emphasized the alignment of values with his team and McDonald Hopkins.
“I have long known and respected the firm for its solid reputation, but what I really didn’t expect to discover was that, despite its much bigger profile and impressive growth trajectory, McDonald Hopkins is really cut from the same hometown Cleveland cloth as my own small firm and has really managed to keep the small-firm culture and values that made it so successful,” Fishman said. “The more members of the IP group I met and got to know at McDonald Hopkins, the more I was convinced that my team and I would fit right in.”
Andrew Jenkins, who is also bringing his extensive experience preparing and prosecuting patent applications in fields like AI and medical devices, agreed with his colleague.
“There are often opportunities to join others with a similar practice, or to redefine your own practice in a new group. But at McDonald Hopkins, we can do both in a way that expands both the client base and what we can offer to those clients,” Jenkins said. “Many times a merger feels additive, but I think this will be more than the sum of its parts.”
Fishman also highlighted the unique contributions the Pearne & Gordon team bring: “Our diverse group of clients from all over the world, representing a wide range of industries will provide fresh opportunity to the members of McDonald Hopkins’ team. We can all enhance our skillsets by working in new areas and encountering different kinds of opportunities and challenges. One unique feature of the Pearne & Gordon group coming onboard is the native knowledge and language skills we bring with the two Japanese members of our team, which opens many doors in doing business in Japan.”
Jim Giszczak, Co-President of McDonald Hopkins, echoed Aaron’s sentiment:
“Aaron, Andrew, Tomoko, Nobuhiko, Trevor and Nicholas not only bring a wealth of knowledge but also a client-first approach that aligns perfectly with our values here at McDonald Hopkins. I’m confident they’ll integrate seamlessly with our growing team, adding fresh perspectives and expanding the depth of our practice. Their collaboration and passion will enhance the culture we’ve cultivated here, and I’m thrilled to have them on board,” he said.
The Growing Team:
Aaron Fishman specializes in patent preparation and prosecution in the mechanical, electrical, and software arts, as well as trademarks and copyrights. His global experience includes collaborating with technology companies and patent professionals across Asia and Europe.
Tomoko Ishihara has broad expertise in mechanical and electrical patents, including work with devices such as wind turbines, semiconductors, and biomedical tools. She also has extensive experience with U.S. and international design and trademark applications.
Andrew Jenkins focuses on patent applications in AI, biomedical technologies, and software. His experience includes appeals before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and the Federal Circuit.
Trevor Lewis specializes in mechanical and software patent applications, patentability opinions, and freedom-to-operate analyses.
Nicholas Owens concentrates on computer and electrical patent applications and provides opinions on patentability and freedom to operate.
Nobuhiko Sukenaga brings over 23 years of experience in Japanese patent practice and expertise in chemical, software, and computer systems patents. Before entering law, he worked as a research chemist in Japan.
