(August 1, 2013, New York) – Reed Smith LLP today announced the addition of two renowned trademark partners to its Intellectual Property Practice in New York. Clark Lackert and Keith Sharkin were formerly partners in the New York IP practice of Dickstein Shapiro.

"Clark and Keith bring high-end trademark experience to the firm’s IP practice and to the New York office," said James T. Hultquist, Practice Group Leader for Reed Smith's firmwide Intellectual Property Group. "Combining their significant work for global pharmaceuticals and life sciences, energy, and financial services companies, and in corporate transactions, with Reed Smith’s existing IP strengths and capabilities, will create an even more dynamic global IP practice at the firm."

Mr. Lackert is one of the world’s leading trademark lawyers, with particular experience in international matters; his practice also focuses on copyright, domain name, licensing, and anti-counterfeiting matters. He regularly handles trademark conflicts and litigation, acquisitions and divestitures involving due diligence for intellectual property assets, and trademark portfolio management. An Internet domain name arbitrator for the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva, Mr. Lackert has also been a consultant for the U.S. government on the World Trade Organization TRIPS Agreement on trademark, patent, and copyright issues. He is a frequent author and has lectured on six continents on cutting-edge trademark, Internet, and domain name issues.

Mr. Lackert is a former president of the United States Group of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI); has been extremely active in the International Trademark Association (INTA) committees; has chaired the ABA Trademark Division, as well as the ABA Copyright Division; and is often listed among the world’s leading trademark lawyers in other prestigious rankings and ratings, including Best of the Best 2013, where he is ranked in the Top 36 in the world and Top 8 in the United States, in trademarks. In 2013, he was named to both Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers, and to the World Trademark Review’s list of top 1000.

Mr. Sharkin represents clients in a wide range of industries, including consumer products, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and electronics. He has handled matters in federal trial and appellate courts throughout the country, litigating trademark infringement, unfair competition, dilution, false advertising, cybersquatting, copyright infringement, and trade dress infringement. His experience extends to handling opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, the prosecution of trademark applications at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and supervision of international trademark matters, including review of foreign searches and opinions, due diligence, counseling, and litigation. Mr. Sharkin has been rated a leading trademark attorney by World Trademark Review in 2012 and 2013.

"Growing our New York office with top-quality laterals like Clark and Keith is a major priority for the firm," said Edward Estrada, Reed Smith’s New York Office Managing Partner. "Having this team in New York will allow us to expand work for existing firm clients and provide top-notch global trademark services to our clients around the world."

"Reed Smith’s broad international platform, its strong and growing New York presence, outstanding reputation, and its history of positive relationships with many of our existing clients make this a smart move for our practice and for our clients," said Mr. Lackert.  "Increasingly, our clients require diverse services in a broad range of practice areas in locations around the world; Reed Smith’s global presence will allow us to handle their needs in a seamless and cost-effective manner."

Reed Smith’s Intellectual Property Practice comprises some 100 lawyers across its 25 global offices. BTI Litigation Outlook 2013 ranked it a "Powerhouse," listing the group among the practices best able to help clients with litigation, based on extensive interviews with more than 350 general counsel and chief legal officers of large companies. Reed Smith’s IP attorneys are recognized as leaders in this arena by the World Trademark Review, Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America. They were recently named "Leading IP Strategists" by Intellectual Asset Management Magazine.

Mr. Lackert earned his LL.M. in Trade Regulation from New York University Law School in 1983, his J.D.　from SUNY Buffalo Law School in 1976, and his A.B., cum laude, from Cornell University in 1973. Mr. Sharkin received his J.D. from Creighton University School of Law in1982, and his B.A., cum laude, from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1978.

"The culture of teamwork at Reed Smith is a perfect fit for the way we work," said Mr. Sharkin. "The global platform and practices at the firm to support our clients, from start-ups to the largest brand names in the world, will be a real asset. We look forward to working with our new colleagues."

U.S.: New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Houston, Princeton, Northern Virginia, Wilmington, Silicon Valley, Century City, Richmond

Europe: London, Paris, Munich, Greece

Middle East: Abu Dhabi, Dubai

Asia: Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Kazakhstan