Foley & Lardner Adds One of Michigan's Top Intellectual Property Attorneys; Nation's 11th Largest Law Firm Announces New IP Senior Counsel in Detroit Office

    DETROIT--March 20, 2001--Continuing an aggressive recruitment effort, Foley & Lardner, the nation's 11th largest law firm, today announced the addition of John VanOphem to its growing list of Michigan attorneys joining the firm's Detroit office.
    VanOphem is joining Foley & Lardner as Senior Counsel in the Intellectual Property (IP) Department. A leading Michigan IP attorney, VanOphem most recently worked as an intellectual property attorney for Delphi Automotive Systems, Inc., in Troy, Mich., where he was responsible for managing all aspects of the patent portfolio for several business units in Delphi's Energy and Chassis division as well as the Delphi Research Labs. He was also corporate patent counsel for Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Steelcase Inc., the world's largest contract office furniture manufacturing company. VanOphem was one of the attorneys responsible for managing intellectual property for Steelcase and its subsidiaries, including all aspects of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and Internet law.
    Foley & Lardner's more than 125 intellectual property attorneys constitute one of the largest and most sophisticated technology groups in a general practice law firm in the United States. Attorneys in the IP Department counsel clients on the incorporation of intellectual property development, protection and enforcement into their overall business plans. Since 1990, Foley & Lardner has ranked in the top ten among all law firms in the number of U.S. patents obtained for its clients (more than 1,200 patents annually). The firm also manages a portfolio of more than 9,000 domestic and international client trademark applications and registrations.
    "No other firm in Michigan can provide the vast IP resources Foley & Lardner offers its clients," VanOphem said.
    In addition to practicing at Foley & Lardner, VanOphem continues as the volunteer general counsel for Woodward Dream Cruise, Inc., the organization responsible for the world's largest one-day automotive enthusiast car show. He counsels the organization's board of directors on its day-to-day operations and the protection and enforcement of its intellectual property assets.
    VanOphem received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University, and his Juris Doctor magna cum laude from Michigan State University - Detroit College of Law.
    "John brings a great deal of experience and insight to Foley's worldwide intellectual property practice," said Gerald J. Neal, partner-in-charge of Foley & Lardner's Detroit office. "His knowledge of automotive and related industries is a tremendous asset to our Michigan clients."
    Foley & Lardner represents several of the largest Detroit-based companies in the automotive and related industries, including tier-one automotive suppliers, and is expanding to serve additional Detroit- and Michigan-based companies through its Detroit office.
    The law firm's six firm-wide departments -- Business Law, Health Law, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Regulatory, and Tax and Individual Planning -- cover more than 40 focused practice groups.
    With more than 900 attorneys nationwide, Foley & Lardner has more attorneys practicing in the Midwest than any other law firm. In addition to Detroit, Foley & Lardner has offices in Chicago; Denver; Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Sacramento, California; Washington, D.C.; Jacksonville, Orlando, Tallahassee, Tampa and West Palm Beach, Florida; Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Brussels, Belgium. The firm's Web site can be found at www.foleylardner.com.

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