McGuireWoods broadens its life sciences patent litigation with new trial lawyers

McGuireWoods broadens its life sciences patent litigation with new trial lawyers

McGuireWoods has broadened its life sciences patent litigation coverage with the hire of a pair of experienced trial lawyers from Winston & Strawn.

Michael Nutter and Merritt Westcott join the firm as partners, with Nutter taking up residence in Chicago where he will lead the firm's pharmaceutical and life sciences patent litigation group, while Westcott will be based in Houston.

Nutter focuses on advising generic drug companies in patent infringement matters and helping companies develop and launch generic medicines. Westcott, on the other hand, handles a range of drug patent litigation cases and other related disputes such as medical and clinical devices.

With an experience of over 18 years at Winston, Nutter was an associate at Michael Best & Friedrich and legacy firm Jenkens & Gilchrist previously. He started his career at Wallenstein Wagner & Rockey. Westcott, meantime, spent more than 11 years at Winston and the same amount of time at legacy firm Howrey before that.

Nutter is the firm's fifth partner to join in Chicago this year, following the arrivals of antitrust litigator Holden Brooks, healthcare lawyer Rubin Pusha, product liability litigator Patrick Clyder and deal lawyer Jason Griffith. Westcott is also the latest addition to the firm's Houston office following litigation partner Jeremiah Anderson's arrival in July from King & Spalding.