WASHINGTON (January 6, 2005) – Venable LLP announced the addition of nine attorneys to partnership status: Sally W. Bryan, Frank A. Ciatto, Ann S. Hobbs, Patricia McGowan, Matthew T. Murnane, Eric S. Namrow, John M. Ramirez, Matthew B. Swartz, and Brian A. Zemil.
Sally W. Bryan, 33, focuses her practice on vaccine pharmaceutical products liability litigation. She assists with the litigation of civil cases in courts across the United States and with the management of litigation in other countries. Ms. Bryan received her B.A. from Bucknell University and her J.D. from Widener University School of Law. She is resident in Venable’s Baltimore office.
Frank A. Ciatto, 38, focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance transactions and counseling of entrepreneurs. Mr. Ciatto is a certified public accountant in the State of New York and a former auditor for the accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand LLP (now PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP). He has assisted clients in the purchase and sale of both large, multinational companies and closely-held businesses in many industries, including advertising, retail, food services, healthcare, printing, telecommunications and insurance. Mr. Ciatto received his B.A. from Georgetown University and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. He is resident in the Washington D.C. office.
Ann S. Hobbs, 59, focuses her practice on patent prosecution, opinions and client counseling in the areas of biochemistry, biotechnology, chemistry and pharmaceuticals. Prior to entering private practice, Dr. Hobbs served as a patent advisor/attorney at the Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health, where she handled patent cases in a wide variety of biological and chemical technologies, including polypeptides and proteins, nucleic acids, transgenic animals, gene therapy, immunology and pharmaceuticals. Dr. Hobbs received her B.S. from the University of Maryland, College Park, her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and her J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law. Dr. Hobbs is resident in the firm’s Washington D.C. office.
Patricia McGowan, 34, focuses her practice on a wide range of corporate and transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, real estate investment trusts (REITs), securities transactions, private and public financings and corporate governance. She received her B.A. from Johns Hopkins University and her J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law. She is resident in the firm’s Baltimore office.
Matthew T. Murnane, 35, is an experienced trial attorney who focuses his practice on complex commercial, real estate, and product liability matters. He has extensive first- and second-chair jury trial experience in the Circuit Courts of Maryland and in various United States District Courts. Mr. Murnane also has represented clients in bench trials in the Circuit and District Courts of Maryland and argued appeals before the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland. He also has represented clients in a number of administrative proceedings and has significant experience in various methods of alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation. Mr. Murnane received his B.S. and J.D. from the University of Baltimore. He is resident in the firm’s Baltimore office.
Eric S. Namrow, 37, concentrates his practice on intellectual property litigation and counseling. He has extensive experience litigating complex patent, trademark, unfair competition, and trade secret cases in a broad array of technology areas and industries. Mr. Namrow has participated in jury and non-jury trials in state and federal courts, as well as appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Federal Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and state supreme courts. Mr. Namrow also has significant experience representing U.S. and international companies in complex intellectual property disputes before the International Trade Commission. Mr. Namrow received his B.A. from Bucknell University, his M.Phil. from Oxford University, and his J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law. He is resident in Venable’s Washington, D.C. office.
John M. Ramirez, 34, practices in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, commercial loan transactions, licensing and other technology transactions, private equity transactions and general corporate matters. Mr. Ramirez contributed to Maryland Technology Transactions: The Venable Practice and Forms Manual(Data Trace Publishing Company, 2002). He received a B.A. from the University of Virginia, and his J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law. He is resident in Venable’s Baltimore office.
Matthew B. Swartz, 36, focuses on business counseling, public securities offerings and compliance, private equity, and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Swartz is a seasoned transactional lawyer with experience practicing in Silicon Valley, Southern California, and the Washington D.C. area. He is a counselor to public companies, private companies, and companies seeking to become privately or publicly held. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Swartz worked in business development at a large private biotechnology company in San Diego. He received a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and a J.D. from the University of California Hastings College of Law. He is resident in the Tysons Corner, Virginia office.
Brian A. Zemil, 36, focuses his practice in product liability defense, toxic tort litigation, and commercial disputes. He has experience both in trying cases and appellate litigation of civil cases in courts throughout Maryland and across the United States. Brian was the 2003 recipient of the Edward F. Shea, Jr. Award. The award, given by the Maryland State Bar Association, recognizes a Maryland young lawyer who exemplifies professionalism, civility, integrity, compassion, and commitment to public service. He received a B.A. from Albright College and a J.D., from the University of Tulsa College of Law. He is resident in Venable’s Towson, Maryland office.
One of the American Lawyer’s top 100 law firms, Venable LLP has attorneys practicing in all areas of corporate and business law, complex litigation, intellectual property and government affairs. Venable serves corporate, institutional, governmental, nonprofit and individual clients throughout the U.S. and around the world from its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and offices in California, Maryland, New York and Virginia. For more, visit www.Venable.com.