Partners Lauren Fletcher, Kevin Prussia, and Louis Tompros have been named to The National Law Journal's list of Boston Rising Stars, featured in a special section of the November 16, 2015 issue of the weekly newspaper. This annual competition honors outstanding legal professionals who have influenced their practice areas and demonstrated strong leadership qualities. All three partners are members of the firm's Litigation/Controversy Department and IP Litigation Practice, while two are also members of the Appellate and Supreme Court Litigation Practice, illustrating the talented group of young lawyers that the firm boasts. More about each winner follows.
The majority of Fletcher's practice involves technologies in the semiconductor, wireless and Internet industries. She has worked with some of today's most significant companies in the space, and the firm's largest clients. Fletcher has been a member of several WilmerHale trial teams in federal district courts and before the United States International Trade Commission and a significant portion of her practice is devoted to appeals in patent disputes before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. She has represented clients in nearly 40 patent appeals, with most that have been decided by the Federal Circuit resulting in favorable outcomes for her clients and several establishing important precedents for significant patent law issues. Aside from serving top tier clients, Fletcher has logged more than 90 hours of pro bono service in the past two years, helping more than 20 organizations, including the National Women's Law Center. She currently sits on WilmerHale's Senior Associates Committee and is a member of the firm's Women's Leadership Initiative.
Prussia devotes his practice to the representation of pharmaceutical and technology clients in patent disputes. His practice covers all aspects of litigation, from pre-suit investigation through trial through appeal. Prussia has a particular emphasis on Hatch-Waxman litigation, having handled several cases over the years for some of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, defending innovative treatment methods, drug compounds, formulations and delivery systems from early generic entry. His experience additionally includes cases involving an array of technologies in the semiconductor, networking and computer software industries. In total, Prussia has appeared in more than 20 cases involving patent disputes. Prussia also has a significant pro bono practice representing individuals and organizations in cases involving constitutional injuries. His work has led to several landmark decisions, including recent decisions by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court involving Fourth Amendment protection of information stored on smartphones. Along with his client work, Prussia serves on the firm's Diversity and Hiring Committees. He is also President of the Board of Directors of the ACLU of Massachusetts.
Tompros' work is noteworthy because of his leading roles arguing high-profile cases that are shaping the development of IP law nationally, combined with his role in high-stakes patent infringement trials for well-known clients. Tompros has handled cases in every industry, from wind turbines to semiconductors, and from smart traffic lights to genetic testing. In total, he has appeared in 21 appeals in IP cases, and he was the lead appellate attorney in four landmark patent appeals. In addition, Tompros has built and expanded his career portfolio while still making time to mentor associates as a member of the Associates Committee and dedicate time to pro bono matters and to the Boston legal community—including through his very active role in the fight for civil legal aid. He is a member of the Equal Justice Coalition of Boston, and currently serves at the Coalition's Private Bar Advisory Council chairman, speaking to Boston law firms on the importance of legal aid funding.