Shook Welcomes Prominent Technology Transactions Team
Shook, Hardy & Bacon announces the addition of a group of well-known intellectual property attorneys and paralegals from the Ragen Swan law firm who focus on technology and IP transactions and business guidance for marquee technology companies. Partners Amy Ragen and Kevin Swan currently lead the virtual technology transactions boutique and will move to Shook effective June 1, 2021, along with the firm’s other attorneys and its paralegals. The highly sought-after skill set they provide to technology companies will complement Shook’s established IP team who serve the same industry with high-stakes litigation and IP counseling and prosecution. Ragen will chair a new Technology Transactions Practice Group for Shook.
“This is a win-win for our clients and both firms. Having represented the same clients for years, we discovered we are like-minded in our approach, and we look forward to the enhanced services we can now both provide to our shared clients,” stated Shook Chair Madeleine McDonough. “It’s a great match.”
“We are thrilled to have Amy, Kevin and their team join Shook,” said Shook Seattle Managing Partner Bart Eppenauer, who previously served as chief patent counsel at Microsoft. “As a full-service law firm well-known for serving companies in the health, science and technology industries, Shook can now take advantage of Ragen Swan’s stellar reputation and deep expertise in technology and IP transactions to broaden Shook’s portfolio of services to the benefit of our clients. We’re delighted to join forces with such a high-caliber group of attorneys and legal professionals.”
The Ragen Swan team advises high-tech companies on intellectual property transactions and general commercial law with a particular focus on complex licensing, development, distribution, and strategic agreements as well as product group, sales and marketing support, procurement, data services and hosting, among other areas. Three of the firm’s other lawyers, Remco Hendrikse, Ken Leppert and Wendi Okun, all previously practiced in-house for the same multinational technology company. Ragen Swan associate Jake Ragen also joins Shook.
“It’s a great move for our clients. Our synergy with Shook means together we can provide pragmatic, results-oriented advice that helps our clients to move toward their business objectives,” said Ragen. “Time is often a key factor when dealing with technology companies, and we believe that the vast resources Shook can bring to bear will enable us to continue to be highly responsive to our clients.”
“Technology companies have unique challenges in that their key assets are typically intangible. It’s complex and evolving work,” said Swan. “We wouldn’t partner with just any firm, but we found Shook complementary to our needs to best serve clients on the cutting edge of technology.”
Ragen and Swan bring decades of combined legal experience. Both practiced before at large firms, and Ragen practiced in-house while Swan spent time at a small firm, until they eventually joined forces at Ragen Swan (which Ragen founded). They both have represented small and large companies, including Fortune 50 technology companies in IP and technology transactions. Ragen earned her law degree from the University of Chicago. The Puget Sound Business Journal named her, “A Woman of Influence.” Swan earned his law degree from University of Washington Law School. He previously served as president of the Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Washington and was a Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative.
Shook’s Seattle expansion follows the opening of a New York office in 2021, which allows the firm to serve its health, science and technology clients from 16 distinct markets. Shook’s Intellectual Property Practice is led by Trent Webb and Michael Gross.
