Pillsbury Elects Eight Attorneys to Partnership

"We are proud to announce a wonderful class of new partners and counsel that represent the best and brightest of our future," said Pillsbury partner Jim Rishwain. "These talented attorneys enhance Pillsbury's capabilities by providing superior client service at all times, by delivering results that help our clients achieve their business objectives and by bringing a firm-first attitude and approach to all professional activities they undertake. I congratulate all 10 of the lawyers on this list and commend and thank them for all that they have done and will continue to do for Pillsbury and our clients."

The members of Pillsbury's new partner class are:

Robert Bedgood, Ph.D. (San Diego North County – Intellectual Property): Recognized among Pillsbury's most skilled biotechnology patent prosecution attorneys, in one of the "hottest" areas of IP law today, Dr. Bedgood concentrates on the life sciences, with widespread experience in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. He provides non-profits, start-ups and multinationals strategic intellectual property counseling and management, and obtains commercially meaningful patents with broad protection that have led to high-value transactions. Bedgood holds a B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Southern California, and a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law.

Emily Bell (Northern Virginia – Intellectual Property): Ms. Bell's practice focuses on patent prosecution and client counseling on intellectual property matters in the mechanical arts, including medical devices, electromechanical devices, electrochemical devices, and pneumatic tools, among others. She has handled all aspects of prosecuting patent applications before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, including ex parte and inter partes reexamination proceedings, and interference proceedings, and has counseled clients on non-infringement and patentability of new products, patent invalidity, and licensing of intellectual property rights. She holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

Jeffrey Johnson, Ph.D. (Houston – Litigation): Dr. Johnson focuses on intellectual property litigation with an emphasis in patent litigation, opinion work and client counseling. He has served as counsel in cases involving patent infringement, trademark infringement, copyright infringement, trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition and antitrust violations.  An adjunct research professor at the University of Houston Law Center, he holds a B.S. from East Texas Baptist University, a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center, and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry/Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Scott Kline (Shanghai – Corporate & Securities): A key member of our China practice, Mr. Kline is a seasoned corporate and securities attorney who has built a significant book of business focused almost exclusively on capital market transactions, M&A and corporate representation of China-based companies seeking access to US capital markets. He has significant experience advising on public offerings and private placements of securities, private investments in public equity (PIPE) offerings, angel and venture capital financings, and M&A transactions, including "reverse acquisitions." Kline holds a B.S. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a J.D., with honors, from Golden Gate University School of Law.

Vince Morgan (Houston – Litigation): A key member of Pillsbury's Insurance Recovery and Advisory team, Mr. Morgan focuses primarily on insurance law and risk management issues. He represents corporate policyholders in the insurance claims process as well as litigation and arbitration when coverage disputes arise, and he also takes an active role in the legal aspects of Enterprise Risk Management programs by assisting clients with the design, implementation, and monitoring of ERM processes in relation to both insurable and noninsurable risks. Morgan holds a B.A. in Economics and Finance, summa cum laude, from the University of Texas at Dallas, and a J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law.

Woon-Wah Siu (Shanghai – Corporate & Securities): Ms. Siu concentrates her practice in securities and general corporate law. She assists China-based companies in capital market transactions, including reverse acquisitions, corporate governance and securities law and SRO compliance, and counsels U.S. and international investors in M&A transactions and other FDI-related matters, and also has substantial experience in domestic and cross-border M&A transactions and in organizing start-up ventures and hedge funds. She holds a Kandidaats, cum laude, from Tilburg University, an M.A. from the University of Warwick, and a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law.

Michael Steinig (Washington, DC – Global Sourcing): Mr. Steinig concentrates on advising clients in complex outsourcing, software, web-based and other technology transactions. He serves not only as primary legal counsel, but also as a lead commercial advisor, structuring and negotiating scope, pricing and all other commercial aspects of his deals. He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Duke University, and a J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School.

Yann van Geertruyden (Washington, DC – Real Estate): Mr. van Geertruyden's practice concentrates on public private partnership transactions. Formerly a legislative assistant for U.S. Senator Connie Mack, Mr. van Geertruyden represents developers in United States military housing privatizations across the country as well as in negotiations with local governments on other public private development initiatives. He holds a B.A. from Kalamazoo College, and a J.D., magna cum laude, from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law.

Pillsbury attorneys recently elevated to counsel include:

Michael T. Reese (New York – Finance): A noted member of the Firm's award-winning energy, infrastructure and projects team, Mr. Reese's practice focuses on finance and development in the conventional, nuclear and alternative power sectors. His recent work includes the Taylorville IGCC Project (Tenaska), the Imperial Valley Solar Project (Tenaska), the Bell Bend Nuclear Power Plant (PPL Corporation) and the Atlantic Wind Transmission Project (Marubeni). He received his B.A. from the University of Dallas, M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, and J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.

Gindi Eckel Vincent (Houston – Environmental): With significant experience relating to air pollution, air quality and other air regulation, Ms. Vincent advises energy clients on complex environmental challenges, including permitting and enforcement matters, before numerous state and federal regulatory agencies. Extremely active in both the Houston environmental and legal communities, Vincent serves on the board of the Women's Energy Network, as an officer of the Houston Young Lawyers Foundation, and was recently named 2010 Outstanding Young Lawyer of Houston. She holds a B.A. from Ouachita Baptist University, and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law.

About Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is a full-service international law firm with market-leading strengths in the energy, financial services, real estate and technology sectors, and increasingly health care and education. Based in the world's major financial and technology centers, Pillsbury counsels clients on global finance, regulatory, litigation and corporate matters. We work in multidisciplinary teams that allow us to anticipate trends and bring a 360-degree perspective to complex business and legal issues--helping clients to take greater advantage of new opportunities and better mitigate risk. This collaborative work style helps produce the results our clients seek.