MENLO PARK (January 14) -- Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton announced today that it has named Craig Largent, Ph.D. the new managing partner of the firm’s Silicon Valley office in Menlo Park, California. Dr. Largent succeeds Mark Barrish who served as the Silicon Valley office managing partner since June 2013. Mr. Barrish will continue to provide IP counseling and investment diligence for the firm’s medical device clients.

“I am humbled and honored to be the next managing partner of our firm’s Silicon Valley office, which has been providing outstanding counsel to clients for nearly six decades,” said Craig Largent. “I want to express my deep gratitude to Mark for his hard work in leading our office and providing a solid foundation for continued success. I look forward to working with our strong team here in Silicon Valley as well as leaders across the firm.”

Kilpatrick Townsend also announced today that Gene Bernard, Ph.D. will be the new managing partner of the firm’s Denver office.

Dr. Largent, who has been with Kilpatrick Townsend for more than 10 years, focuses his practice on patent prosecution, patent infringement and validity studies, technology licensing, and client counseling primarily in the areas of opto-electronics, lasers, mobile communications, semiconductors, semiconductor processing, micro-electromechanical systems, microfluidic analysis systems and electronics.

Prior to attending law school, Dr. Largent was a practicing scientist who obtained multiple patents and authored 15 technical articles. In 1999, Dr. Largent was a Visiting Scholar in the laboratories of Professor Richard N. Zare at Stanford University.

From 1996 to 2001, Dr. Largent was an Assistant Professor of Engineering Physics at the Ohio-based Air Force Institute of Technology. During this period, he taught M.S. and Ph.D. candidates in courses covering technologies, including lasers, opto-electronics, infrared countermeasures and remote sensing. He also conducted research on the use of lasers for the detection of chemical/biological warfare agents.

From 1989 to 1993, Dr. Largent worked in the Semiconductor Laser Applications Branch, Phillips Laboratory, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Working as a Semiconductor Laser Engineer and later as Chief of Single Device Development, he managed a multimillion dollar budget and led the semiconductor laser processing group in the Department of Defense's largest semiconductor laser technology program.

Dr. Largent is a member of the firm's Pro Bono Committee. He was recognized as a 2013 and 2014 Northern California "Rising Star" for Intellectual Property by Super Lawyers magazine.

Dr. Largent received his J.D. from Stanford Law School, his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University, with Highest Distinction.

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