Of Counsel

James is of counsel in our Litigation and Arbitration team, focusing on complex civil litigation with a particular emphasis on commercial disputes, employment matters, and arbitration proceedings. He has successfully handled a wide range of commercial cases in both state and federal courts, representing clients in jury and bench trials.

James also advises financial institutions and broker-dealer firms in regulatory investigations and defends them against claims in the securities industry. He has deep experience in class action litigation, particularly in wage-and-hour class action defense and has also litigated extensively in the area of IP including patents.

He is admitted to practice before the:

·       U.S. Supreme Court

·       U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

·       U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

·       U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut

·       U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York

Practice Areas

General Litigation, Trustees, executors and fiduciaries, Leaders and senior executives, Technology

Admissions

Connecticut; 1991, New York; U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals; U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals; Federal District Court for Connecticut; Federal District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York;

Education

Fairfield University, B.A.

Boston University School of Law, J.D.

Memberships

Connecticut Bar Association; Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association; Fairfield County Bar Association

Of Counsel

Merrick is of counsel and provides legal services across litigation, real estate, tax, estate planning, and business law.

Qualifications

Licensed in Connecticut since 1991, with over 33 years of legal experience.

Executive & Corporate Experience

Chairman at Eceptionist, Inc., a healthcare software company.

President of Turbine Generator Maintenance, Inc., specializing in turbine and generator services.

Principal at PG&E Energy Services and Enron Energy Services Operations, Inc., involved in energy distribution and retail commodities.

Education

Trinity College, B.A.

Georgetown University J.D.

Patent Agent

Areas Of Concentration

Mr. Wachs’ present focus relates to the preparation and prosecution of electrical engineering and signal processing patent applications.  Mr. Wachs has extensive experience in the field of electrical engineering, having worked for more than twenty-five years at top aerospace research facilities.  As a research engineer, Mr. Wachs was the named inventor on numerous patents, including: 

US6226491        Access control for multi-access satellite communication system

US6147640        Communications satellite interference location system

US6091934        Dynamic power allocation system and method for multi-beam satellite amplifiers

US5771019        Method and system for determining location of a sense antenna associated with a phased array communication system

US5754942        Satellite power level monitoring system and method using digital signal processing

US5731993        Nonlinear amplifier operating point determination system and method

US5563609        Antenna system with plural beam offset

US5530449        Phased array antenna management system and calibration method

US 5038341       Relay communication system

US4857865        Self equalizing multi-stage radio frequency power amplifier

US4228401        Communication satellite transponder interconnection utilizing variable bandpass filter

US3813497        Microwave multiplex switch

US3810255        Frequency translation routing communications transponder

US3691466        Phase distortionless limiter

US3477042        Constant level loading of F.M. modulator

Education

George Washington University -M.S., Electrical Engineering

The City College of New York - B.S., Electrical Engineering

Relevant Prior Positions

Senior Scientist/Operations Leader, Hughes Electronics Space and Communications Group

Department Manager, Systems Simulation and Application, Communications Satellite Corporation – Comsat Laboratories

Professional Activities

Delegate US State Department Mission to International Telecommunications Union

Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Tau Beta Pi, National Engineering Honor Society

Eta Kappa Nu, National Electrical Engineering Honor Society

Patent Agent

Technical Expert

Areas Of Concentration

Dr. Pickett has twenty seven years of experience in the field of drug discovery: first at Lederle laboratory, and most recently Bayer.  He led many drug discovery design teams in the areas of inflammation, asthma, metabolic diseases and cancer. He was part of the team in the development and approval of anti-cancer drug, Nexavar.  Dr. Pickett is a biochemist specializing in lipid chemistry, structural elucidation, analysis, and signal transduction. Dr. Pickett also has over 60 publication in these areas.  

Education

Harvard University Doctorate.,

Western Michigan University Masters., Chemistry

Adrian College, Bachelors, Chemistry

Relevant Prior Positions

Group leader, Bayer Corporation, West Haven, CT; , drug discovery in the area cancer research in, biochemistry immunology, cell biology.

Group leader, Lederle Labs, Pearl River, NY drug discovery in the area cancer research in, biochemistry immunology, cell biology.

Post Doctoral Fellow, University of Colorado; Studied mass spectrometry of lipids.

Visiting Scientist, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; lipid biochemistry and the discovery of  the leukotrienes.

Post Doctoral Fellow, Harvard University, Boston; Frank Austen advisor. Studied immediate- type hypersensitivity, asthma,  mast cells, cyclic nucleotide.

Professional Activities

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

American Association for Immunologists

Inflammation Research Association

American Society for Mass Spectrometry

New York Academy of Science

Patent Agent

Former Researcher at the Rockefeller

Areas Of Concentration

Dr. Hoffmann has nearly twenty years of experience in the patent field.  Prior to and in conjunction with his work in patent practice, Dr. Hoffmann’s background includes numerous years as a researcher and educator.  His present focus relates to chemical, cosmetics, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.  He has extensive experience (more than nineteen years) in patent prosecution pertaining to both United States and international patent applications (including preparation of appeal briefs).  In addition, Dr. Hoffmann provides technical and research expertise in opinion work and related patent searches and evaluations.

Dr. Hoffmann worked in the intellectual property practice group of two global general practice firms as a technical advisor/patent agent and earlier in a New York patent boutique litigation firm.  Before entering the patent arena in April 1987, Dr. Hoffmann was an Assistant Professor at Rockefeller University and Adjunct Professor at Cornell Graduate School engaged in basic and cancer research in cell biology, immunology, molecular biology and biochemistry.  Prior to his stay at the Rockefeller University, Dr. Hoffmann was an instructor and research associate in the Department of Biochemistry at the Rutgers Medical School.

Education

Rutgers University — Ph.D., 1973

Rutgers College — B.S.., Chemistry, 1968

Relevant Prior Positions

Assistant Professor, Rockefeller University, basic and cancer research in cell biology, immunology, molecular biology and biochemistry.

Adjunct Professor, Cornell Graduate School, basic and cancer research in cell biology, immunology, molecular biology and biochemistry.

Instructor and Research Associate, Department of Biochemistry, Rutgers Medical School.

Professional Activities

American Chemical Society

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Sigma Xi Honor Society in Biological Research

New York Academy of Science

Languages

Fluent in German

Knowledge of French, Spanish and Russian

Law Clerk

Timothy is a multifaceted legal professional with experience spanning Corporate Law, Finance, Tax, Real Estate, General Litigation, Intellectual Property, and Immigration. He holds numerous U.S. patents.

From October 2019 to September 2022, Timothy worked as a paralegal at a large UK based law firm, supporting a wide range of practice groups. In this role, Timothy collaborated with partners and associates across Corporate, IP, Tax, Real Estate, Litigation, and Immigration departments. Notable work included:

• Supporting SPAC and fintech transactions in emerging markets

• Conducting legal research, organizing and implementing a new docket system, and assisting in depositions and court hearings for general litigation matters

• Assisting clients with citizenship claims and collecting U.S. vital records for immigration purposes

• Reviewing real estate contracts and supporting deal documentation

• Supporting high-level patent-related legal work

With a strong foundation in law and finance, and with a demonstrated capacity for technical innovation, Timothy offers a unique blend of legal, and entrepreneurial expertise.

Awards

As a named inventor on multiple U.S. patents related to COVID-19 detection, treatment, and prevention, Timothy has contributed significantly to public health innovation. Patents include:

• Method for Reducing Clinical False Positives and Negatives in the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 (U.S. Patent No. 10,967,368)

• Collection System and Device for Reducing Clinical False Positives and Negatives in the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 (U.S. Patent No. 11,040,340)

• HCoV Vaccine for Improving Immunity Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection (U.S. Patent No. 11,058,764)

• Pharmaceutical Composition for the Treatment of COVID-19 Infection (U.S. Patent No. 11,497,742)

• Bioburden Reduction Surgical Mask (U.S. Patent No. 11,918,747)

Education

Providence College- BS., Concentration in Finance and Accounting

Fordham Law School- L.L.M. (Candidate with concentration in AI, Crypto and IP)

New England Law Boston- J.D. , Dean’s List

Citizenships

United States

Italy

Memberships

New York Bar Association

Connecticut Italian American Bar Association