McDermott appoints new IP practice leadership, opens San Diego office

March 18, 2025 – International law firm McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to announce the appointment of Douglas (Doug) Carsten and Jennifer Mikulina as the new co-heads of the Firm’s global Intellectual Property (IP) Practice Group. In addition, Carsten will serve as the office managing partner of the Firm’s new San Diego office. 

“I’m thrilled to be leading our IP Practice Group and to be part of our further expansion into Southern California,” said Carsten. “San Diego is home to more than 1,000 life sciences companies and is a thriving biotech hub. Our presence here will enable us to better serve our clients and support their groundbreaking work.” 

Carsten focuses his practice on complex patent litigation disputes. He counsels clients in various technology areas, including pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices, diagnostic products, retail products, and computer software. Carsten has substantial first-chair trial experience that includes litigating high-profile and billion-dollar patent cases.  

“I’m excited to work alongside Doug and our talented IP team to continue delivering exceptional services,” said Mikulina. “We’re committed to fostering innovation and helping our clients navigate the complexities of IP law.” 

Mikulina’s practice focuses on trademark and copyright counseling, prosecution, licensing, and enforcement. She advises companies in a wide variety of industries, with a significant number in the digital health space. Mikulina was previously the head of the Firm’s trademark practice, former chair of the Firm’s Gender Diversity Committee, and is a member and past chair of the Firm’s Chicago Pro Bono and Community Service Committee. 

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