Womble Bond Dickinson Expands Patent Prosecution Practice in Houston and Raleigh
– In a further expansion of its IP practice, Womble Bond Dickinson welcomes Kevin J. Davis, Ph.D., and Brandon W. Massengill as of counsels in the firm’s Houston and Raleigh offices, respectively.
Davis joins the Chemical, Pharmaceutical, and Biotechnology team, and his practice includes patent preparation and prosecution, IP counseling and diligence, preparing opinions, and serving as counsel in proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. He prepares and prosecutes patents in a broad spectrum of technologies within the energy, chemical, medical device, and pharmaceutical sectors. Massengill joins the Software and Electrical Engineering team and focuses on drafting and prosecuting patents, opinions, and counseling in several fields, including electrical, mechanical, and civil engineering; software technologies; and medical devices.
“Kevin and Brandon will add depth to our patent litigation bench and offer clients the benefit of their sharp technical knowledge,” said Christopher M. Humphrey, leader of the firm’s Patent Prosecution and Litigation group. “Intellectual property has long been an area of strength for the firm, and we continue to be committed to adding and retaining top-level talent in areas of client need, particularly in tech-focused markets like Houston and Raleigh.”
Last month, Womble announced the opening of an office in New York with the addition of a prestigious group of lawyers from IP boutique firm Abelman Frayne & Schwab.
Davis and Massengill join a team of 140 attorneys, patent agents, and technical advisors who help clients protect innovations and capitalize on the value of their IP in a competitive marketplace. More than 100 legal professionals are U.S. Patent and Trademark Office registered practitioners, including attorneys and agents. The team has more than 75 professionals with advanced degrees, 29 of whom have doctorates.
Kevin J. Davis, Ph.D.
Davis has a deep understanding of a variety of scientific and technical fields, including chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, materials science, biology, nanotechnology, geology, and upstream technology. His practice includes preparing, filing, and prosecuting patent applications in the U.S. and coordinating foreign prosecution of patent portfolios.
His practice also includes patent due diligence, non-infringement, invalidity, freedom-to-operate, and patentability opinions for chemistry, pharmaceutical, and oil and gas clients. He has experience serving as counsel on inter partes review and derivation proceedings in front of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
Prior to law school, Davis earned a doctorate in geology and geophysics from Rice University, where his work in geomicrobiology – performed in collaboration with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory – earned several awards and grants. He also holds a Master of Science degree in geochemistry from Georgia Tech and two Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Virginia, one in chemistry with a specialization in biochemistry and one in biology.
Brandon W. Massengill
Within the firm’s Patent Prosecution and Litigation practice, Massengill is an of counsel on the Software and Electrical Engineering team. He offers an ability to capitalize on synergies between the patent drafter, inventor, and respective company and has a talent for identifying, understanding, and protecting valuable technology.
With nearly a decade of experience, he focuses his practice on drafting and prosecuting patents, including portfolio building and managing, patent counseling, opinion work, product clearance, licensing and technology transactions, and IP mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Massengill counsels clients in various industries, including electrical, mechanical, and civil engineering; business; software technologies; and medical devices.
While attending law school, Massengill also earned a Master of Business Administration degree. He holds two Bachelor of Science degrees from North Carolina State University, one in civil engineering and one in electrical engineering.
