Former Patent Chief Iancu Returns to Irell & Manella in Firm Win

Andrei Iancu, the former director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, has returned to the partnership of Irell & Manella, a win for a firm hit with a raft of departures in recent years.

Iancu will again focus on intellectual property litigation and counseling. “I’m thrilled to rejoin my friends and colleagues,” he said in a statement. “I look forward to resuming my work helping America’s leading innovators with all of their IP matters.”

His return marks a recruiting victory for the firm where renowned IP litigator Morgan Chu holds considerable sway. Irell has seen leaders depart since Iancu’s ...