By Erin Geiger Smith
Feb 20 (Reuters) - Two intellectual property litigators have
joined King & Spalding's San Francisco office from Greenberg
Traurig.
Kenneth Steinthal, who had headed Greenberg's San Francisco
office, is now a partner in King & Spalding's intellectual
property practice.
Steinthal focuses his practice on matters arising from the
distribution of audio and audiovisual content, including
litigation relating to copyright infringement and Digital
Millennium Copyright Act provisions.
He is joined by of counsel Joseph Wetzel, who represents
clients in media licensing and other intellectual property
litigation.
Both men also previously practiced at Weil Gotshal & Manges.
Steinthal told Reuters in a telephone interview that he left
Greenberg because conflict concerns would have prevented him
from continuing to represent clients in certain matters.
He declined to provide further details on the conflicts but
said he had "only the highest respect" for the lawyers he worked
with at Greenberg.
In a statement, Greenberg said it wished Steinthal "nothing
but the best" and that the firm is "completely committed to our
extensive practice in the IP and digital media space."
Steinthal's clients have included You Tube, Pandora and
Viacom.
"Kenny and Joe provide additional depth and breadth to our
IP practice, and we welcome them to our West Coast IP team,"
Donald Zimmer, managing partner of King & Spalding's San
Francisco office, said in a statement.
Zimmer described the additions as part of the "continued
growth" of the firm's intellectual property practice. The West
Coast IP team now includes 16 lawyers and patent agents, the
statement said.
King & Spalding has about 815 attorneys and profits per
partner of $1.9 million, according to The American Lawyer. The
firm has more than 15 offices in the United States and around
the world and about 25 lawyers in its San Francisco office, the
firm's website indicates.
Greenberg has about 1,700 attorneys and profits per partner
of approximately $1.4 million, according to The American Lawyer.
Its San Francisco office is home to about 15 attorneys,
according to the firm's website. Steinthal helped to open that
office in February 2010 as a co-managing shareholder.
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