Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Thursday, January 8, 2009

 

Page 3

 

Irell & Manella Elects New Partner

 

By a MetNews Staff Writer

 

Irell & Manella LLP has elected Keith A. Orso as a partner, the firm announced yesterday.

A patent litigator, Orso, 34, has represented various semiconductor and pharmaceutical companies and engaged in high-profile intellectual property litigation on behalf of Texas Instruments and Quidel Corp. since joining the firm’s Century City office as an associate in 2002.

His practice also includes pre-litigation counseling, including counseling regarding patent enforcement issues.

Alongside other Irell & Manella partners, Orso is currently defending Texas Instruments against patent infringement allegations relating to microprocessor architectures and he is also defending the San Jose, Calif.-based microcontroller designer and manufacturer Atmel Corp. against patent infringement claims relating to random number generators.

David Siegel, Irell & Manella’s managing partner, praised Orso as “an extraordinary lawyer,” who has consistently “demonstrated a creative and strategic approach to our clients’ problems coupled with top-flight courtroom and trial skills.”

Due to Orso’s “proven ability to lead some of our biggest matters and his substantive background as an engineer, and most importantly, his great character, [Orso] is a very welcomed and valuable addition to our partnership,” Siegel said.

Before joining Irell & Manella, Orso clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Mariana R. Pfaelzer of the Central District of California.

He was admitted to the State Bar in 2001 after graduating from the UCLA School of Law and obtaining a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Texas, Austin.

He also graduated from Harvey Mudd College in Claremont with a degree in engineering, and further completed the requirements for a major in economics from nearby Claremont McKenna College.

 

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