News & Events

Marshall, Gerstein & Borun, is pleased to announce the addition of seven new associates: Margaret Begalle, Jon-Thomas Bloch, Paul Brown, Michael Furmanek, John Labbé, Grace Liu, Elliot Mendelson, Ph.D., and Scott Sanderson.   

“We are pleased to see the firm continue to grow stronger and even deeper in the IP-related services we provide through the addition of these associates,” said Jeff Sharp, managing partner of Marshall, Gerstein & Borun.  “Their rich backgrounds range widely in specialty, spanning biology and all manner of engineering, and this exemplifies our commitment to understanding our client sciences at the most elemental level.”

            Begalle specializes in patent litigation and has extensive experience in matters involving pharmaceutical, electrical and software patents.  She received her J.D., with honors, from Chicago-Kent College of Law (2002), where she was a member of the Chicago-Kent Law Review.  Begalle received her BSE in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Iowa (1999).

            Bloch practices litigation in the electronics, computers and software and consumer products industries.  Prior to law school, he worked as a software developer specializing in software security and cryptographic applications.  Bloch received his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School (2004) and his B.S. in computer science from the University of Virginia (1998).       

            Brown focuses on licensing and IP-related business transactions.  Recently he presented on video game piracy in China at the LSI Gamer Technology Law Conference.  Brown received his J.D., cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law (2001) and his B.S. in microbiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1998).

            Furmanek focuses on patent prosecution as well as handling opinions and counseling in areas of consumer products, medical devices and technology and the mechanical and electrical industries.  His technical skills include mechanics, electro-mechanics and bio-mechanics.  Furmanek brings an international perspective to the firm through experience as in-house patent counsel for an automotive parts manufacturer in Nagoya, Japan.  He earned his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law (2003), where he was a member of the DePaul Law Review and a recipient of the College’s Top Scholar Scholarship.  Furmanek received his B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan (2000).

            Labbé practices patent litigation.  He has experience in patent cases dealing with electrical and mechanical devices, consumer products, e-commerce, and pharmaceuticals.  He received his J.D., cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law (2002), where he served as the executive editor for the Northwestern University Law Review.  Labbé received his B.A. in biological sciences from Northwestern University (1998), and he is admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

            Liu focuses on patent litigation, with emphasis in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.  She also has experience in opinion work, prosecution and technology transfer.  Liu’s technical expertise includes developmental biology, chemical engineering and biomedical devices.  She earned her J.D. from the University of Chicago (2004), where she was a research assistant for Judge Posner.  Liu received her A.B., with honors, and a concentration in molecular biology, from Harvard University (2000), where she received honors for her senior thesis on the pathways of chick cardiogenesis. 

            Mendelson focuses on litigation and counseling in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, including matters related to antibodies, biologics, blood products, pharmaceuticals, gene therapy, modified crops, separation and purification processes and vaccines.  Mendelson received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center (2000), his Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Virginia (1992) and his B.S. in biology from the State University of New York at Binghamton (1985). 

            Sanderson focuses on patent litigation.  Prior to attending law school, he worked as a software engineer in the 3-D computer graphics industry at ATI Research, Inc. based in Marlborough, Mass.  Sanderson received his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law (2006), where he worked at the Complex Litigation Clinic and participated in comparative law studies in Turkey and the Netherlands.  He received his A.B. in mathematics from the College of Holy Cross (2000).