Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis, LLP Lands Third Oppenheimer Attorney.

Business Editors/Legal Writers

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 13, 2003

Burns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis, which ranks among Intellectual Property Today's top three patent firms in the nation, announces the hiring of its third new intellectual property attorney from Oppenheimer, Wolff & Donnelly to handle its increasing client load in the Redwood Shores office. The news comes shortly after Oppenheimer announced the closing of its New York and California offices.

Counsel Michael Bosworth and Associate Eric Proul join Partner Claude "Cash" Hamrick, who came to the firm in February. Before joining Oppenheimer, Mr. Bosworth spent two decades as in-house counsel at Chevron handling worldwide trademark, patent, and copyright matters as well as transactional matters.

"When you see firms like Brobeck and Oppenheimer closing their doors, you realize just how turbulent the legal marketplace can be and just how careful your firm's growth should be. The recent additions of three top attorneys to our firm is indicative of the careful reflection and deliberate growth that personifies Burns Doane's business strategy, which is driven exclusively by client demand. It also illustrates that our firm is very attractive to high-level attorneys and our clients can expect the best from us," said Danny Huntington, chair of Burns Doane's Executive Committee.

Mr. Bosworth, who joined the firm this week, brings expertise in the areas of international trademark portfolio protection, copyright and unfair competition matters, domain name disputes, and the full range of trademark protection.

"Burns Doane offered my clients an impressive platform of 100 intellectual property attorneys on both coasts and offered me their comfort of joining a firm that understands smart growth and lives and breathes for its clients," said Mr. Bosworth.

Mr. Bosworth began his career in intellectual property as a patent agent for Allied-Signal. He has prepared and prosecuted patents in the fields of hydrocarbon processing, mechanical, chemical and business methods.

Burns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis, L.L.P., www.burnsdoane.com, is one of the oldest and largest law firms in the U.S. specializing exclusively in intellectual property. Nearly half of their more than 100 attorneys, patent agents, and technical specialists hold masters or doctorate degrees and many have industry experience or are former examiners at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Burns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis has offices in Alexandria, Virginia; Redwood Shores, California; and Durham, North Carolina.