Milgrim Thomajan Group Joins Paul, Hastings

In a coup for Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, the Los Angeles-based law firm on Tuesday said the entire intellectual property law group of Milgrim Thomajan & Lee has joined its staff. Leading the Milgrim Thomajan group are name partners Roger M. Milgrim and Albert T. Lee.

Along with Milgrim and Lee, 10 other partners and 10 associates of Milgrim Thomajan will be joining Paul, Hastings’ New York offices.

Among the new Paul, Hastings partners are Charles B. Ortner, chairman of the American Bar Assn.’s computer law division, who also represents several entertainment industry figures, including Madonna and Sting.

Other attorneys include George L. Graff, Samuel D. Rosen, Victoria A. Cundiff, William M. Hart, James W. Kennedy, Brendan J. O’Rourke, Robert L. Sherman, Marc L. Silverman and Lawrence I. Weinstein.

In addition to the attorneys, four legal assistants and 11 support staff members are joining Paul, Hastings. Milgrim said “in due course, probably more” staff members will make the switch.

The Milgrim-Lee contingent had announced intentions to leave the Milgrim Thomajan firm in May because of what Milgrim called “serious discomforts and philosophical differences” with the firm he co-founded 24 years ago. He said the intellectual property law group--one of the most respected in the country--was heavily courted before agreeing to join Paul, Hastings.

Paul, Hastings said there will be no changes in the administrative structure of its New York office and that Daniel G. Bergstein will remain chairman there. The addition of the 12 new partners raises the total of Paul, Hastings partners to 137, according to Robert A. DeWitt, the firm’s managing partner.

The departure leaves the former Milgrim Thomajan firm with about 120 lawyers and numerous staff. It has been renamed Varet, Marcus & Fink.