PALO ALTO, Calif., March 17 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Virtual Law Partners LLP (VLP) has announced that Brett Healy, Daniel Meyers, Gregory Kim, M. Sharon Webb and Dianna DeVore have joined the firm as partners. “We are thrilled that VLP continues to attract experienced lawyers with superb qualifications,” said Craig Johnson, VLP’s CEO. “Their talent and backgrounds speak for themselves.”

Brett Healy, formerly Senior Intellectual Property Counsel at eBay, focuses on helping technology companies manage and develop their intellectual property assets. Prior to joining VLP, Brett managed eBay’s worldwide trademark portfolio and oversaw the Verified Rights Owner’s Program, the first large-scale program implementing the safe harbor provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Prior to eBay, Brett litigated IP cases at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges and Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe. Brett graduated from Cornell University and earned a JD, and received Order of the Coif, from the University of Southern California Law Center. Brett will chair VLP’s Trademark Prosecution Practice Group.

Daniel Meyers, formerly a partner at Bingham McCutchen, brings to VLP fifteen years of legal practice experience representing startups, private companies, major public companies and venture capital funds in the various transactions that are central to the success of technology companies in Silicon Valley and around the world. Immediately prior to joining VLP, Dan spent three years in solo practice. Fluent in Italian and French, Dan graduated with highest distinction and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Arizona, earned a Masters in Italian Literature from UC Berkeley and was awarded his JD cum laude from Harvard Law School.

Gregory Kim and Sharon Webb come to VLP from Vantage Counsel LLC, a virtual law firm in Honolulu, Hawaii founded by Kim. Greg’s legal practice focuses on the representation of emerging growth and technology companies, including mergers and acquisitions. He began his legal career at Pillsbury Winthrop, San Francisco and, after returning to Honolulu, practiced law with Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel prior to launching Vantage Counsel LLC. Greg received a BS from Yale University and a JD/MBA from the University of California, Berkeley. He has spear-headed community service at VLP by creating the firm’s Community Service Committee which he chairs. Sharon Webb focuses on patent diligence, patent strategies and technology transfer for the life sciences.

Sharon Webb formerly practiced law as a partner of Goodwin Procter and, prior to that, was a practicing surgeon, specializing in reconstructive surgery as part of a breast cancer team. Sharon has published and lectured extensively in both law and medicine. She is also a trained bioethicist, addressing topics pertaining to legal and ethical issues that affect life sciences companies. Sharon earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School, a Ph.D. from Yale University, and her M.D. from Duke University.

Dianna DeVore, former COO at the Australian Stem Cell Centre, focuses on life sciences patent prosecution, licensing and due diligence. She brings to VLP over 12 years legal experience ranging from stem cells and genomics to clinical stage and marketed pharmaceuticals. Dianna received her J.D. from Stanford Law School, a Ph.D. from Yale University, and a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University. Dianna will chair VLP’s Patent Prosecution Practice Area.

“VLP appreciates the value Drs. Webb and DeVore bring to VLP’s growing Life Sciences Practice,” said RoseAnn Rotandaro, VLP’s President. “Sharon and Dianna have hit the ground running, teaming up with other VLP partners on initiatives to support clients in the firm’s Life Science Practice.”

About Virtual Law Partners

Virtual Law Partners LLP, or VLP, is a distributed law firm of 30 partners, all of whom have outstanding credentials and an average of over ten years of experience. Our state-of-the-art technology platform allows us to operate virtually, eliminating expensive office space and minimizing personnel as well as other overhead expenses. We pass along the savings to our clients. VLP attorneys, with education and experience comparable or superior to attorneys at other top tier firms, practice law at more prudent rates.

For more information about the firm and our partners, go to: www.VirtualLawPartners.com. Created for the 21st century, VLP provides practical legal representation to corporations for these economic times.

All trademarks and service marks are the property of the respective parties.

News issued by: Virtual Law Partners LLP

# # #

Original Story ID: (4814) :: 2009-03-0317-002

Original Keywords: Virtual Law Partners LLP, CEO Craig Johnson, VLP silicon valley california lawyers, Brett Healy, Daniel Meyers, Gregory Kim, M Sharon Webb and Dianna DeVore, Intellectual Property Counsel, legal representation to corporations, startups, private companies, major public companies and venture capital funds, RoseAnn Rotandaro, S-IND Virtual Law Partners LLP

News Source: VLP Law Group LLP