Extra! Extra! Read all about the law firms currently hiring. Yes, you heard right. Despite the economy meltdown, intellectual property work is still up and running and law firms are currently hiring lawyers.

Rising demand from clients for enforcement of patents and general counseling in the area, Merchant & Gould; Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon; and McAndrews, Held & Malloy are a few of the firms who have recently added new lawyers to their growing team.

“So far, we’ve been insulated from what other law firms are experiencing out there,” said Merchant & Gould Managing Director Randall King, referring to the financial turmoil that has caused some firms to lay off lawyers, implement hiring freezes or disband altogether. “Generally, I think IP firms are somewhat insulated.”

Needing defense against “patent trolls” and wanting to protect their patents from rivals to “ensure the revenue that flows from them,” patent litigation work is continuously picking up and has been in the past six months.

“We have not deviated from our model whatsoever in light of the economic crunch,” said John Letchinger, the chairman of Chicago-based Wildman’s intellectual property practice. “We’re not finding our clients shying away from investing in intellectual property.”

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