Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced its expansion in Texas with the addition of Ryan Beard, a first-chair patent litigator. Beard broadens Akerman's intellectual property offering in Austin with experience in the areas of medical devices, mechanical devices, automotive products, computer equipment, other technology related to the internet and data, and copyrights and trademarks.
Beard regularly counsels clients to obtain protection and registration in the areas of trademarks and copyrights and also assists clients in the evaluation of patent portfolios for businesses and due diligence evaluation. With respect to patent portfolio management, Beard uses his experience in litigation to help clients obtain patents that will not only protect their products, but that will allow their enforcement at trial to be effective and understandable to a jury. In addition, he has experience with general business practices, trade secret protections, and confidentiality agreements.
Since 2016, Akerman’s headcount has more than doubled in Texas to 64 lawyers and business professionals in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Recent additions in Texas include real estate partners Mark McElree and Kacy Whitehead, and insurance litigation partner Elliot Strader in Dallas. In Houston, a four-member team led by partners David Clark and Kristen McDanald joined Akerman to enhance the capabilities of the national Litigation Practice Group in the area of insurance litigation.
About Akerman
Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized among the most forward thinking firms in the industry by Financial Times. Its more than 700 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world’s most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and help drive innovation and growth. Akerman is known for its results in middle market M&A and complex disputes, and for helping clients achieve their most important business objectives in the financial services, real estate and other dynamic sectors across the United States and Latin America.
From pharmaceuticals and medical devices, to computer software and technology, to fashion and music, Akerman’s Intellectual Property Practice Group serves clients in all aspects of intellectual property counseling, litigation, licensing, transactions, and due diligence. Our team includes lawyers and patent agents with advanced technical degrees and business experience in disciplines such as electrical engineering, computer science, chemistry, and molecular biology. Our scientific and business backgrounds, coupled with experience gained from past service in the United States Patent & Trademark office, enable us to provide practical strategies for protecting intellectual property value.