Mintz Levin Attorneys Named to San Diego Daily Transcript's 2006 Top Attorneys List
7/24/2006
San Diego, CA. -- Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. announced that Eddie Rodriguez, Carl Kukkonen and James Cleary, three members in the firm's San Diego office, have been named to The Daily Transcript's 2006 Top Attorneys list. Mr. Rodriguez has been named to the "Transcript Ten", a list of San Diego's top attorneys across all practice areas selected by the editorial team of the major local daily business publication. Mr. Kukkonen and Mr. Cleary have been named to the "Top Ten IP Attorneys" list.
Other than the "Transcript Ten," inclusion in all categories of the Top Lawyers list is based on a peer voting process. Each year, San Diego County lawyers are asked to nominate lawyers with whom they have had professional experience and feel are worthy of recognition. More than 600 attorneys were nominated this year. Attorneys cannot nominate themselves.
Mr. Rodriguez practices in the firm's Business and Finance Section where he focuses on a wide range of corporate and securities matters, including corporate formation, mergers and acquisitions, venture financing, technology licensing, and general business counseling. He has extensive experience with counseling public and private companies in the life science, telecommunications, software, hardware, e-commerce and information technology industries in a broad range of transactional matters. He has represented clients in more than 200 mergers and acquisition transactions, he has represented investors and private companies in numerous private equity financings valued in excess of $200 million and he has represented clients in numerous securities offerings. Mr. Rodriguez received his B.A. from the University of California at Los Angeles and his J.D. from Stanford Law School. He was the editor-in-chief of the Stanford Journal of International Law and the articles editor of the Stanford Law and Policy Review.
Mr. Kukkonen's practice focuses on strategic intellectual property counseling including advice on patent infringement and validity, preparation and prosecution of patent applications, licensing, and due diligence studies. He also regularly counsels emerging growth companies on issues ranging from entity formation and governance to venture capital financings. Mr. Kukkonen is a committee member of the San Diego MIT Enterprise Forum Program and has served as a judge for the San Diego State University Venture Challenge. He is also a member of Fédération Internationale des Conseils en Propriété Industrielle and Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle. He received his B.S. from Harvey Mudd College and his J.D., with honors, from George Washington University.
Mr. Cleary's practice concentrates on patent law, including preparation and prosecution of patent applications, rendering of opinions on infringement and validity, licensing, due diligence investigations, and client counseling, with an emphasis on electrical, telecommunications, software, and mechanical technologies. His Internet and software experience includes the areas of enterprise applications, business warehouse and database platforms, computer graphics and presentation software, communications protocols and e-commerce applications. His electronics experience includes computer hardware, controls, and networking devices such as switches, routers, and digital cross-connects. His telecommunications experience includes wireless communications, particularly base station and antenna design. His mechanical technologies experience includes exercise and therapeutic equipment, medical devices and mechanical assembly systems. Mr. Cleary received his B.S. from the United States Air Force Academy, his M.B.A. from Chapman University and his J.D. from University of California, Davis.
Mintz Levin is an AmLaw 100 law firm with offices in the US and the UK. The firm has exceptional depth in a broad range of practice areas, but our clients recognize that what sets us apart from other law firms is our industry focus. By truly understanding business drivers and industry trends, we are able to provide our clients with more than just legal advice. We provide legal solutions to our clients' business issues. Since 1933, our lawyers have represented entrepreneurs, emerging growth companies, government agencies, and leaders in primary industries that include Life Sciences/Biotechnology; Technology & Communications; Financial Services & Insurance; Healthcare; Real Estate, Hospitality & Construction; and Retail & Consumer Products. Our practical knowledge combined with our industry expertise enables us to provide our clients with enterprise legal advice that gives their business a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
