International law firm McDermott Will & Emery today announced that it has named partner Steven G. Spears as partner-in-charge of the Firm’s Houston office, effective immediately. Spears, a partner in McDermott’s Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Group, will be responsible for overseeing, and implementing the Firm’s strategic regional business objectives, and ensuring that the Firm’s Houston office effectively meets the needs of  the Firm’s current and future client base.

Spears is both nationally, and locally, recognized as a rising star in the legal community. He was named in the 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America as a leader in the field of intellectual property law.  He was also named a “Rising Star” among Texas lawyers by Texas Monthly magazine from 2004 to 2007.  He focuses his practice on patent, trade secret, and other technology-related litigation involving the chemical, biotechnology and petrochemical industries.

“We are very pleased to have found such a strong and capable leader in Steven, who will bring a new energy, and a deep-level of local expertise and knowledge to one of the Firm’s key U.S. offices,” said Peter J. Sacripanti, co-chair of McDermott Will & Emery LLP. “We are confident that Steven, as a battle-tested courtroom attorney and mentor to others, will do a first-class job as partner-in-charge, enabling McDermott to capitalize on the opportunities for growth in this vital market.”

“Steven has been a rising star at McDermott for some time now, and we are delighted to appoint him to this new role, “said Jeffrey E. Stone, co-chair of McDermott Will & Emery LLP. “Steven is quite simply the best choice for this position and we look forward to working with him to expand the Firm’s capabilities in Houston.”

Steven received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Texas School of Law and his B.A. in chemistry, cum laude, from Rice University.  He is a member of the Houston Intellectual Property Law Association, the Houston Bar Association, the Federal Circuit Bar Association, the American Intellectual Property Law Association and the American Bar Association, and currently serves as chair of the amicus committee for the Houston Intellectual Property Lawyers Association.

In January of this year, McDermott partner Fay Morisseau was asked to serve temporarily as partner-in-charge of the Houston office. Going forward, he will continue to serve as partner-in-charge of McDermott’s Orange County office.

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