On January 9, WilmerHale was named among Law360’s “IP Groups of the Year” for the second consecutive year. The Law360 “Groups of the Year” series, which honors only five firms per practice area, recognizes those firms that have played a role in those matters that made headlines and changed the legal landscape within the past year.

“WilmerHale attorneys not only convinced the US Supreme Court that inventors were entitled to first claim patent rights this past year, but also helped i4i Limited Partnership secure a patent ruling against Microsoft Corp. in the high court just three days later, earning it a place among Law360’s IP Groups of 2011,” states the Law360 write-up outlining the firm’s great successes. In addition to the firm’s double victory in the Supreme Court in one week, Law360 also notes the firm’s record-breaking patent ruling reversal for Abbott Laboratories.

Law360 solicited nominations for the 2011 “Groups of the Year” series from hundreds of law firms in November 2011. A committee of editors reviewed more than 550 submissions, finally deciding to profile five firms for each practice area.

WilmerHale's recognition as one of Law360’s 2011 “IP Groups of the Year” follows the firm’s recent honor from The American Lawyer as a national finalist for Intellectual Property Litigation Department of the Year. The firm’s Litigation Department also received an honorable mention for winning “two of the most important intellectual property appellate victories of the past two years in just three days.” In addition, former Co-Managing Partner Bill Lee was singled out as “Mr. IP” and named a “Litigator of the Year” finalist.