CHICAGO, Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S., is pleased to announce that 18 new associates have joined the firm.

The new associates are:

Andrew J. Avsec holds a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School and a B.A. in an independent concentration in bioethics from Princeton University. Mr. Avsec worked as a summer associate with the firm last summer and will focus his practice on trademark law.

Jacob C. Bachman, a past summer associate at the firm, holds a J.D. from The John Marshall Law School and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois.

Katie M. Blakley worked at Brinks as a law clerk before receiving her law degree. She earned a J.D. from Wayne State University Law School and a B.S. in engineering mechanics from Michigan State University. Ms. Blakley will be based in Brinks' Ann Arbor office.

Thomas C. Burton has a J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law and a B.S. in mechanical engineering, with a minor in Japanese, from the University of Utah. Mr. Burton was a summer associate with the firm last summer.

Igor V. Dubinsky, a past summer associate, earned his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, cum laude, and holds a Certificate in Intellectual Property from the Center for Intellectual Property Law and Technology. Mr. Dubinsky earned his B.A. from Northwestern University, where he triple-majored in integrated science, advanced physics and molecular/genetic biology and minored in business institutions.

Benjamin Findley holds a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School, an M.S. in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a B.S. in civil engineering from Tufts University College of Engineering in Medford, Massachusetts. Mr. Findley was a summer associate with the firm last summer.

Joshua S. Frick earned his J.D. from Washington University School of Law and holds a B.S. in marketing and legal studies from Indiana University, Bloomington. Mr. Frick worked at the firm last summer as a summer associate and will focus his practice on trademark law.

Joseph S. Hanasz earned his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law and holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from The University of Iowa. Mr. Hanasz spent last summer as a summer associate with the firm.

Brandon C. Helms, a past summer associate with the firm, holds a J.D. from the DePaul University College of Law and has a B.S. in chemistry from Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Karl Horlander received his J.D. from Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis. He also holds an M.S. in electrical and computer engineering from Purdue University and a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Kentucky. Mr. Horlander worked as a law clerk at the firm during his last year of law school and will work in the firm's Indianapolis office.

Michael Hussey holds a J.D. from Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis as well as a B.S. in electrical engineering and a B.A. in German from Purdue University, Indianapolis. Mr. Hussey will be based in Brinks' Indianapolis office.

Bryan J. Leitenberger earned his J.D. from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and received a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame. Mr. Leitenberger worked at the firm last summer as a summer associate.

Edward Machado earned his J.D. at Chicago-Kent College of Law and has both a B.S. and an M.S. in electrical engineering from The University of Illinois at Chicago.

Luke A. Parsons holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University. Mr. Parsons is a former summer associate with the firm.

Kevin Patariu earned his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law and holds a B.S. and M.Eng. in electrical engineering from Cornell University. Mr. Patariu worked as a summer associate last summer at the firm.

Megha Patel, a past summer associate at the firm, earned her J.D. at Indiana University, Bloomington School of Law. She holds a Ph.D. in molecular biology and genetics from the University of California, Los Angeles and a B.S. in biological sciences from University of California, Irvine.

M. Daniel Spillman, a past summer associate at the firm, received his J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law and his B.S. in mechanical engineering from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. Mr. Spillman will work out of the firm's Indianapolis office.

Christopher Sukhaphadhana holds a J.D. from University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville and a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois.

Founded in 1917, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is based in Chicago with four additional offices across the country serving the intellectual property needs of clients from around the world. The firm is one of the largest IP law firms in the country, with more than 160 attorneys, scientific advisors and patent agents specializing in intellectual property litigation and all aspects of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, unfair competition, intellectual asset management, and technology and licensing agreements. Brinks routinely handles assignments in fields as diverse as electrical, chemical, mechanical, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, nanotechnology, Internet and computer technology, as well as in trademarks and brand names for a wide variety of products and services. For more information, visit http://www.usebrinks.com/.

CONTACT: Sydney Iglitzen (312) 840-3163 siglitzen@usebrinks.com

CONTACT: Sydney Iglitzen, +1-312-840-3163, siglitzen@usebrinks.com, for
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione

Web site: http://www.usebrinks.com/