With nearly 540 legal professionals throughout offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, Ohio, and Washington, D.C., Barnes & Thornburg LLP is one of the largest law firms in the United States, offering clients virtually all the areas of concentration one would expect in a large, full-service law firm.

Whether your business is local, regional, national or international in scope, Barnes & Thornburg offers all of our clients an advantage that we consider to be both valuable and distinctive. Due to the firm's value-focused business model, we are able to deliver comparable quality at a greater value, as well as a combination of sophisticated services and client-attention that other firms may simply be unable to provide. Simply put, we deliver the services that clients need, with a value-driven approach. Today, this is more important than ever.

To all of our clients, we offer integrity, reliability, and personal commitment. We take the time to learn about our clients and their businesses in order to help them realize their objectives. We view our performance in terms of our clients' success. To that end, we focus our efforts on a combination of innovative problem-solving with good old-fashioned hard work. It is a heritage of which we are proud, and one that we have enjoyed for decades.

The attorneys at Barnes & Thornburg serve clients from more than 50 dedicated practice and industry areas. The firm's main areas of practice include litigation, intellectual property, labor and employment, white collar crime, business law, governmental services and finance, energy, telecommunications, transportation and utilities, environmental, healthcare and creditors' rights.

Within these areas, we strive to help clients achieve solutions that span national borders. We represent many of the world's largest companies in U.S. legal matters, and assist a broad array of U.S. companies operating abroad to achieve their international business objectives. We enjoy large Pacific Rim and immigration practices. We are members of TerraLex, a highly selective, international network of more than 155 independent law firms located in nearly 100 countries with more than 15,000 attorneys, and TechLaw Group, Inc., an international association of 20 law firms that focuses on technology companies and technology issues. The firm also is a member of the State Capital Group, an association of nearly 120 independent law firms in all 50 U.S. state capitals and in capital cities, business markets and financial centers throughout the world. Through these relationships, we offer our clients access to top legal professionals around the globe.

We invite you to learn more about the firm's other diverse practice and industry areas, which include financial institutions, trade associations, transportation and global logistics, aviation, E-commerce, foreign trade and customs, higher education and many more. You can find a description of each of these areas, as well as additional information on the firm's commitment to diversity and pro bono policy, by visiting the firm's Web site at www.BTLaw.com.

Whether your legal needs are local, national or international, we invite you to discover the advantages of working with Barnes & Thornburg.

Statement of Practice

Acquisitions and Divestitures, Ad Valorem Tax, Administrative Law, Affirmative Action, Agriculture Law, Americans with Disabilities Act, Antidumping, Antitrust, Antitrust and Trade Regulation, Appellate Practice, Attorney Grievances, Automotive Warranty Law, Aviation and Aerospace, Aviation Law, Banking Law, Banking Regulations, Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Reorganization, Banks and Banking, Biochemical Patents, Biomedical Products Liability, Biomedical Technology, Biotechnology Patent Prosecution, Bond Law, Brain Injury, Breach of Warranty, Brown Fields Redevelopment, Business Immigration, Business Law, Business Litigation, Business Planning, Business Regulatory and Administrative, Business Start-ups, Business Succession Planning, Business Taxation, Business Torts, Business Transactions, Business Transfers, Buying and Selling of Businesses, Cable TV, Cargo Claims, Charitable Trusts and Foundations, Chemical Intellectual Property, Chemical Patent Prosecution, Chemical Patents, Chemical Products Liability, Civil Appeals, Civil Litigation, Civil Practice, Civil RICO, Class Action Defense, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Closely Held Business Estate Planning, Closely Held Businesses, Closely Held Business Law, Closely Held Corporations, Collective Bargaining, Commercial Bankruptcy, Commercial Finance Law, Commercial Law, Commercial Leasing and Financing, Commercial Litigation, Commercial Conveyancing, Commercial Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate Acquisition, Commercial Real Estate Development, Commercial Real Estate Finance, Commercial Transactions, Commodities Fraud, Communications and Media, Complex Commercial Litigation, Complex Litigation, Computer and Software Patents, Computer Law, Computers and Software, Conflicts of Interest, Construction Labor Law, Construction Law, Consumer Credit, Contract Litigation, Cooperatives, Copyrights, Corporate Finance, Corporate Formation, Corporate Law, Corporate Taxation, Corporate Tax Planning, Countervailing Duties, Covenants Not To Compete, Creditors Rights, Creditors Rights in Bankruptcy, Criminal Defense, Criminal Law, Criminal Tax Audits, Customs Law, Dealer and Distributor Termination, Debt and Equity Finance, Decedents Estates, Defense Litigation, Design Patents, Disability Insurance Defense, Discrimination, Distribution, Drug and Medical Device Defense, Economic Development, Education Law, Elder Law, Election, Campaign and Political Law, Electric Power, Electric Utilities, Electrical Intellectual Property, Electrical Patents, Electro-mechanical Patents, Electronic Commerce, Electronic Patents, Eminent Domain, Employee Benefits, Employee Stock Ownership Plans, Employment Defense, Employment Discrimination, Employment Law, Employment Litigation, Energy, Energy Contracts, Energy Regulation, Environmental Administrative Law, Environmental Cleanup, Environmental Compliance, Environmental Criminal Defense, Environmental Law, Environmental Litigation, Environmental Permitting, Environmental Real Estate, Environmental Regulation, Environmental Risk Management, Equal Employment Opportunity Law, ERISA Litigation, Estate Administration, Estate and Gift Taxation, Estate Planning, Estate Planning and Taxation, Estate Planning and Administration, Estate Planning and Probate, Estate Planning for Parents of Handicapped Children, Estate Planning for Unmarried Individuals, Executive Compensation, Executive Severance Contracts, Export Regulation, Fair Employment Practices, Family and Medical Leave Act, Family Business Successions, Family Wealth Transfer, Federal and State Administrative Regulatory Practice, Federal and State Legislative Practice, Federal Civil Litigation, Federal Civil Practice, Federal Criminal Law, Federal Estate and Gift Taxation, Federal Litigation, Federal Tax Controversies, Federal Taxation, Fiduciary Income Tax, Finance, Financial Transactions, First Party Insurance, Foreign Investment in the United States, Freight Claims, Freight Loss and Damage, Gaming Law, Gaming Licensing, Gas Utilities, General Litigation, Government, Government Affairs, Government Agency Practice, Government Contracts, Government Investigations, Government Relations, Groundwater Contamination, Hazardous Materials and Substances, Hazardous Waste, Hazardous Waste Liability, Head Injury, Health Care, Health Care Corporate Law, Health Care Contracts, Health Care Fraud, Health Care Licensing, Health Care Litigation, Health Care Mergers and Acquisitions, Health Care Regulation, Health Care Reimbursement, Health Law, Heavy Equipment Products Liability, Immigration Law, Industrial Revenue Bond Law, Inheritance Tax, Initial Public Offerings, Insurance, Insurance Bad Faith, Insurance Coverage, Insurance Litigation, Insurance Regulation, Integrated Health Care Delivery Systems, Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property General Prosecution, Intellectual Property Infringement, Intellectual Property Licensing, Intellectual Property Litigation, Intellectual Property Procurement, Intellectual Property Protection, Intellectual Property Rights, International Business Law, International Intellectual Property, International Law, International Patents, International Trade, International Transportation Law, Internet Law, Internet Trademark Law, Joint Ventures, Labor and Employment, Labor Arbitration, Labor Law, Labor Relations, Land Use, Lease Law, Leasing, Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Legal Malpractice Defense, Legislative Practice, Licensing, Life Insurance Defense, Limited Liability Company Law, Limited Partnerships, Liquor Licensing, Litigation, Loans, Lobbying, Local Government Law, Logistics, Long Term Care, Managed Care, Managed Care Contracts, Management Employment Law, Management Labor Law, Manufacturers Liability, Maritime Regulations, Mechanical Intellectual Property, Mechanical Patents, Media Law, Mediation, Medical Antitrust, Medical Intellectual Property, Medical Patents, Mental Health Law, Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures, Mergers and Acquisitions, Mineral Taxation, Molecular Biology Patents, Motor Carrier Law, Motor Carrier Regulation, Multi-Employer Pensions, Municipal Bonds, Municipal Bonds Taxation, Municipal Finance, Municipal Law, Municipal Leasing, Municipal Redevelopment, Municipal Securities, Municipal Taxation, National Labor Relations Act, Neurolaw, Nonprofit and Charitable Organizations, Nonprofit Organizations Law, North American Free Trade Agreement, Occupational Safety and Health, OSHA, Partnership Law, Partnership Taxation, Patent Infringement, Patent Interference Practice, Patent Litigation, Patent Prosecution, Patents, PCT Legal Export, Personal Injury, Personal Injury Defense, Pesticide Litigation, Pharmaceutical Intellectual Property, Pharmaceutical Patents, Physician Contracts, Physician Practices, Planning and Land Use, Power Line Contact Injury, Probate, Probate Litigation, Products Liability, Products Liability Defense, Professional Liability, Property Law, Property Tax, Property Tax Abatement, Property Tax Appeals, Psychological Injury, Public Finance, Public Sector Labor Relations, Public Utility Law, Railroad Law, Real Estate, Real Estate Acquisitions, Real Estate Contracts, Real Estate Development, Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Licensing, Real Estate Secured Lending, Real Estate Title Insurance, Real Property, Real Property Acquisitions, Real Property Finance, Reorganizations, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Retirement Benefit Plans, School Law, Securities, Securities Litigation, Securitization, Semiconductor Technology, Sexual Harassment, Small Business Corporations, State Government Law, State Tax Controversies, State Taxation, Structured Finance, Succession Planning, Superfund, Tax Controversies, Tax Exempt Finance, Tax Exempt Organizations, Tax Increment Finance, Tax Law, Tax Litigation, Taxation, Technology and Science, Technology Law, Technology Licensing, Technology Transfers, Telecommunications Competition, Telecommunications Law, Theft of Trade Secrets, Title VII Discrimination, Title IX Discrimination, Tort Defense, Toxic Exposure, Toxic Tort Class Actions, Toxic Torts, Toxic Tort Defense, Trade Dress, Trade Secrets, Trademark Litigation, Trademarks, Trademark Prosecution, Trademark Protection, Trademark Registration, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trial Practice, Trusts and Estates, Unfair Competition, Unfair Trade, Uniform Commercial Codes, Union Contract Negotiations, Union Elections, Utilities, Utility Law, Wage and Hour Law, WARN Act, Water Pollution, Water Quality, Water Utilities, Wetland Regulation, White Collar Crime, White Collar Criminal Defense, Wills, Workers Compensation, Workouts, World Trade Organization, Wrongful Death, Wrongful Termination, Wrongful Termination Defense, Zoning, Planning and Land Use.

Address

Atlanta Financial Center
3343 Peachtree Road, N.E., Suite 1150
Atlanta, GA 30326-1428, (DeKalb & Fulton Cos.)

Phone

Phone: 404-846-1693
Fax: 404-264-4033

Website

http://www.btlaw.com

Firm/Affiliate Offices

OF COUNSEL

Nigamnarayan Acharya (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 2001, Georgia; registered to practice before U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison (B.S., 1998); Emory University (J.D., 2001); Georgia Institute of Technology. Mr. Acharya's practice is focused on securing patent, copyright, and trademark rights and counseling with respect to those rights. He has negotiated license agreements, conducted due diligence in connection with mergers and acquisitions, and provided numerous clearance opinions. Mr. Acharya has prepared patent certifications for Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDA). In addition, he has represented clients in trademark appeals, oppositions, and cancellations before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Prior to law school, Mr. Acharya's research experience included work in biophysical chemistry in which he studied the thermodynamic parameters of proteinnucleic acid interactions. He gained experience with techniques such as microcalorimetry, fluorescence, and nuclear magnetic resonance. Mr. Acharya also is active in the Indian community serving in various organizations that foster business relationships between the United States and India. Member: State Bar of Georgia. Practice Areas: Intellectual Property.Email: Nigamnarayan Acharya

Heather Sample Spires (Of Counsel) born Cincinnati, Ohio, 1973; admitted to bar, 1998, Georgia. Education: University of Georgia (B.A., magna cum laude with high honors, 1995); University of Georgia Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1998). Ms. Spires focuses her practice on business and corporate transactional matters, including complex contract negotiations, acquisitions, asset-based lending, leasing, real estate development and finance, and general business advice. Ms. Spires received her J.D. cum laude from the University of Georgia Law School in 1998. She earned a B.A. magna cum laude with high honors in environmental sciences from the University of Georgia in 1995. Ms. Spires is active in the Atlanta community as a member of the Hope and Will Ball Planning Committee for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. She has served on the board of directors of the Eating Disorder Information Network and as pro bono counsel for Paws Columbus, Inc. In addition, Ms. Spires is an active volunteer with the Atlanta Union Mission Women's Shelter and with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Egleston Hospital. She is admitted to practice in the state of Georgia. Practice Areas: Business Law; Real Estate.Email: Heather Sample Spires

PARTNERS

Jason A. Bernstein (Partner) admitted to bar, 1984, Florida; 1985, Georgia and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia; registered to practice before U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Education: Vanderbilt University (B.S., 1980); University of Miami (J.D., 1983). Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Board of Directors (2004—) and Institution Support Council; HealthMPowers, Inc., Board of Directors (2006—) and Fund Development Committee; Dad's Garage Theatre Company, Advisory Board (2009—), Product Development and Management Association, Georgia Chapter, Summitt Planning Committee. Member: State Bar of Georgia (Member, 1985— Chairman, 1999-2000, Intellectual Property Law Section); The Florida Bar; Atlanta Bar Association; American Intellectual Property Law Association; International Trademark Association. Practice Areas: Patents(35%); Trademarks(30%); Copyrights(5%); Licensing(15%); Computer Law(15%).Email: Jason A. Bernstein

Stuart C. Johnson (Partner) admitted to bar, 1987, Georgia. Education: University of Virginia (B.A., Economics and Government, 1982); Virginia Polytechnic Institute for Public Affairs (M.A., Economics, 1986); University of Virginia (J.D., 1987). Member: State Bar of Georgia. Practice Areas: Business Law; Finance.Email: Stuart C. Johnson

David A. Flanigan, Jr. (Partner) admitted to bar, 1988, Georgia. Education: King College (B.A., summa cum laude, 1985); University of Virginia (J.D., 1988). Member: Atlanta and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions.Email: David A. Flanigan, Jr.