--- title: Wolf Greenfield Alumni Newsletter l January 2026 --- Welcome to the latest edition of the Wolf Greenfield Alumni newsletter... | View in browser Contact Us Once a Wolfie, always a Wolfie. We hope you’ll find the information within this newsletter interesting and useful. We also hope you’ll share information with us to include in future editions! Steve Brown Associate General Counsel, Orna Therapeutics   We’re pleased to feature Steve Brown in this episode of Wolf Greenfield’s Alumni Spotlight series. He was previously a technology specialist in Wolf Greenfield’s Biotechnology Practice. Today, Steve serves as Associate General Counsel at Orna Therapeutics.  LISTEN HERE Check out which Wolf Greenfield alums recently moved companies.  Aya Cieslak-Tochigi joined Henkel as Assistant General Counsel - Trademarks in October 2025.  Matt Duffey joined Amgen as Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property & Litigation in September 2025.  Jeff Harrigan joined Axon as Associate IP Counsel, Patents in July 2025.  Dhara Patel joined Soufflé Therapeutics as Director, IP & Contracts Counsel in November 2025. RETIREMENT NEWS    After decades of leadership, insight, and unwavering dedication, Ed Gates officially retired in December.    Ed joined Wolf Greenfield in 1984, and served as Chairman for 15 years, President and Managing Partner from 2000-2005 and again from 2021-2024, a member of the Strategic Planning Committee over a 20-year span, and as the founder of our Biotechnology Practice and Pharmaceutical Practice.    Ed’s impact goes far beyond titles or milestones. He has been a trusted advisor, a steady leader, and a generous mentor to so many—shaping not only strategy and outcomes, but also careers and culture along the way. His commitment to excellence, integrity, and collaboration leaves a lasting mark that will continue well into the future. ARTICLES & NEWS While we will certainly miss Ed’s guidance and presence, we’re excited for him as he begins this next chapter. If you’d like to send well wishes, Ed can be reached at edward.gates1954@gmail.com.  NEWS & ARTICLES  Wolf Greenfield Promotes Five Attorneys in 2026   We are pleased to announce the promotion of four attorneys to the position of shareholder and one attorney to the position of counsel, effective January 1, 2026. The firm’s newest shareholders are Phil Hamzik, Michele Moresco, Eric Rutt, and Adam Zeiger. The firm’s newest counsel is Joseph Bowler. The promoted attorneys’ legal and technical know-how spans a range of practice and technology areas, including patent prosecution and litigation in the life sciences, electrical and computer, and chemical and materials sectors   Read more.  Wolf Greenfield Announces New Leaders for ITC and Appellate Litigation Practices   We are pleased to announce the appointments of Libbie DiMarco as Head of the firm’s ITC Litigation Practice and Nathan Speed as Head of the Appellate Litigation Practice. Greg Corbett, Chair of our Litigation Practice, shares why these appointments reflect the firm’s continued commitment to excellence in representing clients across the full spectrum of intellectual property disputes.   Read more. 2025 USPTO Recap: What This Year’s Developments Mean for Patent Filers   The USPTO is navigating a period of significant transition. While change often brings uncertainty, it also creates opportunities for companies to refine their strategies and position their portfolios for success. Scott McKeown and Ed Russavage highlight practical steps for innovators navigating the road ahead.    Read more. Continue to Monitor Evolving AI Regulations and Requirements   On December 11, 2025, a new Executive Order titled “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence” was issued, signaling renewed federal interest in AI regulation. Matt Grady breaks down what this means for companies developing and deploying AI and provides key takeaways.   Read more. Points to Consider When Developing an AI Use Policy   Being aware of the duty to use AI responsibly, ethically, and in compliance with the laws of all jurisdictions in which you do business is critical. Matt Grady and Jonathan B. Roses point focus on core attorney obligations and practical considerations for developing your own AI use policy.    Read more. Procedural Implications of Multidistrict AI Copyright Infringement Lawsuits   In Managing IP, Maria Crusey and Ed Russavage examine how the rapidly growing wave of AI-related copyright lawsuits—and their consolidation into multidistrict litigation (MDL)—is reshaping procedural strategy for parties involved in these disputes.    Read more (subscription required). Navigating Medical Device Regulation and IP Protection in the United States   In the US, medical device regulation and IP protection are governed by complex statutory and regulatory frameworks that are distinct from—but closely related to, and in some cases overlapping with—the frameworks for drugs and biologics. In this two-part series, Jonathan B. Roses examines how medical devices are regulated in the US and how innovators can effectively protect their IP.   Read more. Clades, Classifications, and Claims: Evolution of Organisms and Their Nomenclature in Life Science Patents   Through the examples of influenza viruses and bacteria, Nathan Jacobs explores the challenges that evolution (of formal names, knowledge of biodiversity, and organisms themselves) can pose for organism-centered patents, and options for addressing them through taxonomy and phylogenetics in the Journal of Law and the Biosciences.   Read more. Is Your IP Practice Leveraging AI Innovation? Should It?   Breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and quantum computing are being announced at a rapid pace. At the same time, we’re seeing more and more legal disputes related to these emerging and highly competitive markets. In this article published by IPWatchdog, Matt Grady highlights how organizations can balance innovation with risk management.   Read more. Strategic Uses and Considerations for Reissue Applications   Reissue applications are rare—less than 300 filed so far in 2025 compared to over 1.2 million utility applications. Yet they are sometimes the best tool available to achieve your goals. This three-part series from Curtis Powell explores when and how a reissue application can be advantageous.   Read more.   Did you recently switch jobs, receive a promotion, publish an article, or have an important life event you’d like to share with others? Let us know and we’ll incorporate it into the next newsletter! CONTACT US There's a way to interact with fellow alumni in real-time! To communicate with other alumni, share job openings, and see firm news, be sure to join the Wolf Greenfield Alumni Group on LinkedIn! JOIN HERE Do you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for the next edition? Feel free to contact Cassie Najjar. 2026 © Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.  600 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA, 02210 605 Third Ave, New York, NY, 10158 601 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC, 20001   Unsubscribe Manage Preferences   The content of this newsletter may be considered Attorney Advertising under the ethical rules of certain jurisdictions, and is provided on the understanding that it does not constitute the rendering of legal or other professional advice by Wolf Greenfield or its lawyers. This newsletter is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. | | --- |