King & Spalding today announced that intellectual property trial lawyer Thomas Friel has joined as a partner, resident in the firm’s Silicon Valley office in Palo Alto and in its San Francisco office. Friel, a former partner at Cooley, specializes in patent litigation and disputes concerning licensing, trademark and copyright, unfair competition and trade secrets. He chaired Cooley’s IP litigation practice from 2007 to 2016.

Friel represents clients in a broad range of industries, from electronics to life sciences in IP litigation, arbitrations and International Trade Commission (ITC) investigations. He has expertise in trademark cases, such as invalidating the “386” trademark for microprocessors, and numerous trademark and trade dress matters. Friel joins King & Spalding’s Trial & Global Disputes practice group, which includes the firm’s intellectual property practice.

“Tom has a great reputation in Silicon Valley and beyond, and he’s an excellent trial lawyer,” said Andy Bayman, leader of King & Spalding’s Trial & Global Disputes practice group. “Major clients from software to semiconductors to the automotive industry regularly turn to him to fight for their patents and protect their other intellectual property. He’ll be a great addition to our offices here and to our national and international practices.”

“Tom’s trial skills are well known as is his expertise in the IP arena,” said Tim Scott, managing partner of the Silicon Valley office. “We know our clients with critical IP matters will be thrilled he’s joined our team.”

Friel speaks frequently on patent issues. He is on the advisory committee for the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology, a research center at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, and has spoken at its events. He has served on the faculty of the Advanced Patent Law Institute, as well as the annual Rocky Mountain Intellectual Property & Technology Institute. He has been ranked by Chambers USA since 2008, is named an IP Star by Managing Intellectual Property, has been recognized for many years in editions of the Best Lawyers in America, and was named among the “Top 75 Intellectual Property Litigators in California” by the Daily Journal.

“I’m excited to be a part of King & Spalding’s substantial national and international IP practice, and to grow its footprint in California and beyond,” said Friel. “I look forward to working with my new colleagues in the ever-evolving IP litigation landscape.”

Friel received his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan and earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School.