Dr. John J. McDonnell, founding partner of McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP, has announced his retirement after more than 30 years of patent practice. Earlier this year, the firm honored his many contributions to the legal profession and the biotechnology industry with a special in-firm St. Patrick’s Day party.
Dr. McDonnell founded McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff in 1996, with four other partners from Banner & Witcoff. The new firm promised an entrepreneurial focus in its client service, and a collegial atmosphere for its professionals. Since those first five attorneys started the firm, MBHB has grown to more than 80 attorneys in three offices, with an international intellectual property practice.
Prior to his law firm career, Dr. McDonnell was chief patent and trademark counsel at G.D. Searle and Company, where he secured a landmark five-year extension of the Aspartame patent and directed the brand ingredient strategy for NutraSweet. He was also head of the diagnostic patent operations at Abbott Laboratories for five years.
Dr. McDonnell attended the Chicago-Kent College of Law, and earned his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Iowa State University.
In his retirement, Dr. McDonnell plans to continue his frequent visits to Ireland, spend time with his grandchildren, and golf. He will also continue to contribute to the profession by providing licensing advice to clients.
