This article appeared in the February 2008 issue of Focus on Norwood-Norfolk Central School newsletter.

Brian Ferguson, Norwood-Norfolk Class of 1984, has been chosen in the field of intellectual property law for inclusion in “The Best Lawyers in America,” 2008 edition. He is a partner in the firm of McDermott, Will and Emery, Washington, DC. His sub-specialty is patent law. Brian is the firm wide deputy head of the intellectual property, media and technology department.

He is a 1988 graduate of Union College with a degree in electrical engineering (magna cum laude) and a 1991 graduate of Albany Law School with a jurist doctorate degree. Mr. Ferguson resides in Bethesda, Maryland, with his wife Audrey and three children.

Mr. Ferguson argued a case that overturned a twenty four year legal precedent regarding willful patent infringement. The matter was argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on behalf of Seagate Technology vs. an Individual Inventory and MIT. He was an adjunct professor at George Washington University School of Law, where for several years he taught a course on Patent Enforcement. In July 2007 he was asked by United States Senators Specter and Kyl to provide comments on patent reform legislation. He is one of the leading legal expert commentators on patent matters and regularly appears on Bloomberg TV.

“The Best Lawyers in America” lists attorneys in 78 specialties, representing all fifty states and the District of Columbia, who are chosen through an exhaustive survey in which thousands of the nation’s top lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. The 2008 edition of best lawyers is based on two million evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers. “Best Lawyers” remains unchanged since its first publication 25 years ago. It remains the gold standard of reliability and integrity in lawyer ratings.