Hale and Dorr announces that Matthew E. Langer, Ph.D. , has joined the firm’s Intellectual Property Department in its New York office as a partner. Dr. Langer handles a wide range of patent-related matters, particularly with respect to pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceutical chemicals.

Dr. Langer has extensive experience in advising clients on patent prosecution and patent-application filing strategies and counseling clients in the areas of patentability, infringement, freedom to operate, claim scope, claim validity and licensing. He has prosecuted patent applications relating to compositions of matter obtained from synthetic and naturally occurring sources, methods for their use and methods of chemical synthesis. Dr. Langer has collaborated with foreign patent counsel on foreign prosecution of non-United States patent applications and has argued before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences.

Dr. Langer joins Hale and Dorr after nine years in the New York office of Pennie & Edmonds LLP. Prior to attending law school, he was a research scientist for Unilever Research, U.S., in Edgewater, NJ. He was also a chemist with GE, where he developed novel, high-performance liquid crystalline polyesters with extreme heat and chemical resistance properties.

"We are thrilled that Matt has joined us. He offers our clients an innovative approach to IP matters," said Nels Lippert, partner in charge of the New York office.

Dr. Langer earned his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. He received a Ph.D. degree in organic chemistry from Yale University and a B.S. degree in chemistry from Tufts University. Dr. Langer is admitted to practice in the state of New York and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office; the United States District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; and the United States Supreme Court.