Steve Jobs Feverishly Recruiting Lawyers

**Michael Essany** · 11-29-2010, 09:55 AM

It may be a tough job market out there today, but if you're an out-of-work attorney specializing in patents and intellectual property, business is picking up. And you may be in luck. Apple CEO Steve Jobs is reportedly dropping some serious coin on qualified lawyers these days. Then again, if you were the CEO of one of the most frequently sued tech companies in the history of the world, wouldn't you be doing the same thing?

The news comes as Apple gears up for another round of legal battles. Their current opponent, however, is a formidable one -
Nokia, a mobile-phone maker far bigger than Apple in the cell phone business. Apple and Nokia will face off in front of the International Trade Commission, as the body will hear allegations about supposed intellectual property violations. If this sounds similar to other recent claims involving Motorola and HTC, you would be right. Indeed, Apple's legal team will be tied up in court for what could amount to a very long period of time. And, as a result, Steve Jobs and company wants a legal "dream team" to do the company's bidding.

According to a report published Monday morning in BusinessWeek: "Apple has hired some of the nation's top patent lawyers as outside counsel. They include Ropert Krupka of Kirkland & Ellis, who negotiated a 2005 settlement in which Apple agreed to pay $100 million to Creative Technology Ltd., maker of the Zen music player; William Lee WilmerHale in Boston, who successfully represented Broadcom Corp in its fight against Qualcomm; and Matt powers of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, who successfully defended the patent on Merck & Co.'s biggest product, the $4.7 billion-a-year asthma drug Singulair."

Just last year, more than two dozen substantial patent infringement suits involving Apple were filed. It's a pattern that is widely expected to escalate before it slows. And Apple's decision to beef up up its legal team is clear validation of such an assessment.

BusinessWeek

**steve-z17** · 11-29-2010, 09:58 AM

Apple's already got the best of the best when it comes to lawyers.

**mardinn** · 11-29-2010, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by steve-z17

Apple's already got the best of the best when it comes to lawyers.

WRONG

McDonalds the one you are looking for.

**rabbit_** · 11-29-2010, 12:14 PM

In that case we the consumer will be paying for it somehow

**luketinsley** · 11-29-2010, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by rabbit_

In that case we the consumer will be paying for it somehow

Ya....when you buy apples products tard

**EskimoRuler** · 11-29-2010, 02:50 PM

Do you think they get a discount on ipads? They're retail employess dont

**mvhurlburt** · 11-29-2010, 03:16 PM

Hiring them all huh? I only see three high profile names there... Unless there aren't too many patent/IP lawyers out there these days!

**steve-z17** · 11-29-2010, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by mardinn

WRONG

McDonalds the one you are looking for.

Lol, true.

**awesomeSlayer** · 11-29-2010, 04:39 PM

Looks like lawyers are going to fight over for Steve.

**wolverinemarky** · 11-29-2010, 07:30 PM

damn wonders what patents google violated if apple needs even more lawyers lol

**sziklassy** · 11-29-2010, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by awesomeSlayer

Looks like lawyers are going to fight over for Steve.

Perhaps, if things are likely that Apple wins. Nobody is going to be fighting over anyone if it looks like Apple will lose this one though.

**athleticswimmer** · 11-30-2010, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by sziklassy

Perhaps, if things are likely that Apple wins. Nobody is going to be fighting over anyone if it looks like Apple will lose this one though.

oh believe me, someone will! Apple is Apple and no "apple"(say it while holding your tongue) is going to miss the opportunity of being Apple's lawyer. But of course from the day you become Apple's "lawyer" you are considered an expendable

cuz after that your worthless to them hehe.

**cpkirkley** · 11-30-2010, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by athleticswimmer

oh believe me, someone will! Apple is Apple and no "apple"(say it while holding your tongue) is going to miss the opportunity of being Apple's lawyer. But of course from the day you become Apple's "lawyer" you are considered an expendable

cuz after that your worthless to them hehe.

lol, grabs tongue...

In all seriousness though, unless there is MUCH MUCH more to the nakia case then has already been reported and rehashed over the last 6 months, Apple is kindof fighting a losing battle against Nokia. If theyre smart, they simply settle, and pay the royalty for using the GSM standard. Kinda like they were supposed to do in the first place.

Nokia is just waving their arms on the other stuff, but they are totally right about the GSM thing.

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It may be a tough job market out there today, but if you're an out-of-work attorney specializing in patents and intellectual property, business is picking up. And you may be