ATLANTA (January 3, 2014) — The law firm of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP announced today that Dr. J. Gibson Lanier has joined the firm’s Intellectual Property Department as Counsel in Atlanta. Dr. Lanier is the second IP attorney to recently join SGR from Ballard Spahr; Gregory J. Kirsch joined last year.

Dr. Lanier focuses his practice on patent law for biotechnology and medical device inventions, and has provided counsel to his clients in all aspects of foreign and domestic patent prosecution, interference proceedings, and post-issuance reissue and reexamination. He also prepares and evaluates licensing agreements, non-infringement, invalidity, patentability, and freedom to operate opinions as well as counsels clients in due diligence matters.

“We are proud to welcome another esteemed professional to our talented Intellectual Property Department,” said Practice Leader, Gregory Kirsch. “Prior to joining SGR, I had the pleasure of working with Gibson at my prior law firm for 10 years. Gibson is a talented and experienced patent lawyer with an impressive scientific background, and he will add deep biotechnology patent capabilities to our Atlanta office, strengthening our existing biotechnology and chemistry patent practice in our DC office.”

Dr. Lanier is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and part of the Intellectual Property Section and Patent Committee. He is also involved in the Atlanta Bar Association; the American Intellectual Property Law Association; the American Association for the Advancement of Science; and the Association of University Technology Managers. He received his B.S. in biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1993 and earned his Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from Emory University in 2001. He went on to receive his law degree from the Georgia State University College of Law in 2008.