Brown, Winick Graves, Gross, Baskerville & Schoenebaum, known as one of Des Moines’ strongest corporate law firms, is adding muscle on Jan. 1 with the additional of seven veteran attorneys and a new office in West Des Moines.

The state’s third-largest law firm will add four attorneys to form an intellectual property specialization. Those attorneys are Brian Pingel, Camille Urban, Mike Dee and Adam Jones. Three others, Mike Green, Brian Green and Dustin Smith, are expected to focus mostly on real estate and transactional law matters. Each was previously part of Pingel & Templer, a West Des Moines law firm that is disbanding.

“These are quality people who bring a great amount to Brown Winick in terms of their expertise in intellectual property law and real estate law,” said Doug Gross, the firm’s managing partner. “West Des Moines is the fastest-growing area in the state, and we want to have a greater presence there. A growing number of our clients are there and we want to be near our clients. This action is really part of a strategic plan to move into those areas – professionally and geographically. The opportunity arose and we took advantage of it.”

Pingel, who has more than 25 years of intellectual property law experience, will head the firm’s new intellectual property law team. Bob Andeweg, already a member of Brown Winick, will lead the real estate and transactional law team.

“Although most people think of intellectual property law as dealing with patents, trademarks and copyrights, the field is much broader than that. It’s also the law that protects investment in names, symbols and other representations that businesses use to identify their products and services in the marketplace,” Gross said.

“As part of Brian Pingel’s practice, he’s represented inventors of everything from boat docks to talking toys, and he’s prosecuted and defended numerous patent and trademark cases,” he said. “He’s been involved in cases on the cutting edge of biotechnology and even successfully defended a Des Moines restaurant’s distinctive recipe for pizza.”

Green has more than 25 years of business and real estate law experience, with extensive statewide experience in both residential and commercial development projects.  Brown Winick will open a West Des Moines office in the Regency West business park at 4500 Westown Parkway on Jan. 5. The office will house the majority of the intellectual property and real estate practice groups.

“That office also has ample space for the firm’s other attorneys to meet with clients in West Des Moines instead of our downtown offices in the Ruan Center,” Gross said. “We think this option is going to be especially beneficial as the [Interstate-235] re-construction project continues over the next few years. These moves are going to increase our capacity to serve our clients’ needs and we’re excited about that. It’s a great way to start 2004.”