© 2017 The Texas Lawbook.
By Mark Curriden
(July 6) – Intellectual property lawyers Bill Munck and Greg Howison have known each other for two decades. They have shared clients and sent business to each other. Only three miles of LBJ Freeway separate their offices. Munck even hired Howison’s son as a lawyer last year.
Howison and the six IP attorneys at Howison & Arnott will officially join Munck Wilson Mandala, which will now have 60 lawyers in its offices in Dallas, Austin and Marshall.
With the addition of the Howison & Arnott lawyers, Munck Wilson boasts 27 registered patent attorneys, which is the third most in North Texas, behind full service corporate law firms Baker Botts (40) and Haynes and Boone (31).
“During the past few years, the IP law market in Dallas has changed significantly – the dynamics have changed – and this move makes the firm uniquely positioned to take advantage of those changes,” says Howison, who is one of the deans of IP law with more than 35 years of experience.
Munck, who is the managing partner of the firm that bears his name, says that he has long admired Howison.
“We have a strong vision about the future of patent law and the addition of Greg and his team positions our law firm as a powerhouse in IP law,” he says. “The 27 registered patent attorneys at this firm have a combined 500 years – half a millennium – of technical and IP law experience. That’s unmatched.
“We will put our resources and expertise up against any law firm in Dallas,” Munck says.
Howison, who worked as a design engineer in high frequency communications and digital and analog design with Westinghouse, Texas Instruments and Rockwell International before getting his law degree at SMU Dedman School of Law, has prepared over 1,000 patents in his legal career.
“I looked at other law firms over the past couple years but you lose about one-third of your lawyers due to client conflicts when you join a large corporate firm and you have to raise your billing rates to meet the new compensation requirements,” Howison says. “Bill has maintained his price-point while offering superb service to his clients.”
By joining Munck Wilson, Howison gains an additional benefit: He gets to work with his son, Will Howison, a 2014 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law who joined the firm in 2016.
“I just learned they have me officing right next door to Will,” Howison says. “Will is one of the few patent lawyers with a double E degree (bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical and electronics engineering), which is highly unique and hard to come by.”
The other lawyers joining Munck Wilson are:
- Partner John Arnott, who has more than 23 years of IP law experience in patent and trademark law representing clients in aircraft, automotive systems, automation equipment, sports equipment and E-commerce. He received his J.D. from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and holds a master’s in mechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.
- Partner Brian Walker, who has 26 years of IP law experience and focuses his practice on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications in telecommunication and electrical and software-related technologies. He received his J.D. from the Texas Tech University School of Law.
- Senior counsel Andrew Graham, who has 22 years of IP law experience and represents clients in patent acquisition, preparation and filing and prosecution of patent applications. He once worked as a design engineer in the semiconductor industry and co-founded Gazelle Microcircuits, a venture-backed semiconductor company prior to becoming a lawyer. He received his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.
- Senior counsel Edward Jorgenson, who has 29 years of experience preparing and prosecuting patent applications for chemical and computer-related inventions, including mail sorting equipment, polymers, orthodontic devices and electro-optical connectors. He was once employed as an engineer for a steel company and he served in the United States Air Force.
- Senior counsel Steven Greenfield, who has 25 years of IP law experience representing clients in the telecommunication, medical equipment, wearable device and internet connected system technologies. He works closely with inventors, engineers, scientists and technology startup companies, helping them protect their technologies, brands and investments. Prior to his legal career, Greenfield worked as a systems and circuit design engineer for Chrysler Technologies Airborne Systems.
- Associate Keith Harden, who brings three years of IP law experience in patent and trademark preparation and prosecution in computer hardware and software, communication systems, E-commerce, sports equipment and other technology areas. He received his J.D. from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, where he was the technology director for the SMU Science and Technology Law Review.
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