Lippes Mathias today announced a combination with Fay Sharpe LLP, a Cleveland- based intellectual property law firm founded in 1884. The combination unites Lippes Mathias’ existing intellectual property practice with Fay Sharpe’s team of attorneys and paraprofessionals, and their years of practical experience in areas of intellectual property law including trademarks, copyrights, and patents relating to chemical, mechanical, and electrical engineering; computer and material sciences; physics; chemistry; biotechnology; and more. Fay Sharpe is renowned for its long-standing presence in the Cleveland business community and for their roster of sophisticated national and global clients.

“It’s Fay Sharpe’s reputation and track record that initiated our attraction to the firm. As we’ve gotten to know each other, it’s our common principle of people-first culture and approach to the business of law that makes the Lippes Mathias/Fay Sharpe combination such a natural fit,” said Kevin J. Cross, managing partner and chairman, Lippes Mathias. “I am excited to welcome such a talented and respected group and look forward to the opportunities this creates for client service, business growth, and expanding the Lippes Mathias footprint to Cleveland. This is a game changer for IP services in Western New York and the rest of our markets.”

20 Fay Sharpe attorneys have joined Lippes Mathias in the firm’s largest combination to date, bringing its attorney count to nearly 170. Fay Sharpe attorneys in total possess nearly 30 technical degrees, in areas ranging from electrical engineering to biochemistry and physics.

“The reputation of Fay Sharpe and its attorneys is one of competence, sophistication, and experience. In my nearly 40 years of practicing intellectual property law, Fay Sharpe has remained a pillar of accomplishment and professionalism in that environment,” said Scott E. Thompson, Lippes Mathias partner, IP team co-leader, and former general counsel for intellectual property and marketing properties at Mars Incorporated. “I am eager to work alongside this team of like-minded professionals, and I’m thrilled by the opportunity this combination presents our clients and the firm.” 

Sustained, strategic growth, which can be attributed to meeting the evolving needs of the firm’s clients rather than hitting specific growth targets, has become a theme at Lippes Mathias, which has added four offices to its footprint in the last two years alone. In addition to this expansion to Cleveland, the firm has recently opened offices in Long Island, Rochester, and San Antonio, Texas.

“This is the right move at the right time,” said Joseph D. Dreher, former partner at Fay Sharpe, now partner and team co-leader – intellectual property, Lippes Mathias. “The combination of Fay Sharpe with Lippes Mathias is driven by what is best for our firm and our clients. We look forward to the resources and scale that this combination provides, and we remain committed to continuing our more than 100-year history of IP counsel to our clients.”

Former Fay Sharpe attorneys and professionals will continue to practice out of the fifth floor of the Halle Building located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio under the Lippes Mathias LLP brand, with Dreher and Thompson co-leading the unified intellectual property practice team. James E. Scarbrough, a former managing partner at Fay Sharpe, will serve as the partner-in-charge of Lippes Mathias’ Cleveland office. 

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with nearly 170 attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Albany, Rochester, Long Island, and New York, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Cleveland, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; and Washington, D.C., the firm represents publicly and privately-owned companies, private equity and venture capital firms, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals.

Year after year, Lippes Mathias is proud to be recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, U.S. News - Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers and Chambers USA. For more information, visit www.lippes.com.