Ex-Kirkland Partner Buys 4,500 Patents, Forms New Firm to Sue Infringers
A former patent litigation partner of Kirkland & Ellis has purchased 4,500 patents and is establishing a new law firm that will sue to enforce both his own patents and those of other clients. John Desmarais, 46, is opening his new firm, Desmarais, today in New York City, Bloomberg reports. Desmarais has hired three lawyers and expects it to have an attorney roster of 12 by the end of the year. The move is unusual for a number of reasons; among them, Desmarais is moving to the plaintiffs side and is now championing a company that simply owns patents rather than one that manufactures goods. “It fills a market niche that doesn’t exist right now in legal services,” Desmarais says of the work his firm will do. The firm will offer alternative-fee arrangements, he notes, including fixed fees and contingent fees.
