Joseph F. Posillico practices in all fields of intellectual property law, has extensive experience in intellectual property litigation and heads the firm's litigation practice. He also is experienced in patent prosecution relating to chemical and computer-related inventions.

Mr. Posillico has been lead trial counsel in many important intellectual property cases and has significant first-chair experience in patent and trademark jury trials. In one of Mr. Posillico's more recent cases, Get-A-Grip, II, Inc. v. Hornell Brewing Co., Inc., 2000 WL 1201570 (E.D. Pa. 2000), he led a litigation team to successfully defend the makers of AriZona brand iced tea in a patent infringement suit by invalidating the patent on summary judgment, and by convincingly arguing on appeal that summary judgment was properly granted. Mr. Posillico was also lead counsel in the appellate phase of the landmark case of Chiuminatta Concrete Concepts, Inc. v. Cardinal Industries, Inc., 145 F.3d 1303 (Fed. Cir. 1998), in which he succeeded in reversing the trail court's decision convincing the Federal Circuit to find non-infringement of the principal patent in suit. In another notable case, Tarkett v. Congoleum, 32 U.S.P.Q. 2d 1359 (E.D. Pa. 1994), Mr. Posillico led a trial team to a successful defense of its client against a charge of patent infringement. After a three-week trial, the jury in the Tarkett case returned a verdict of non-infringement and an advisory verdict that the plaintiff had obtained its patent by inequitable conduct. On the basis of the advisory verdict, the court in Tarkett awarded Mr. Posillico's client its attorneys' fees and costs. Mr. Posillico is the author of articles on topics in intellectual property and has been an invited speaker at continuing legal education and professional association meetings, including the Pennsylvania Intellectual Property Law Association. In recognition of his accomplishments, Mr. Posillico was recently selected as one of Pennsylvania's Super Lawyers.

Mr. Posillico earned an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from the Polytechnic University of New York (B.S., cum laude, 1979) and his law degree from Temple University School of Law (J.D., 1985).

Mr. Posillico is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the State of New Jersey, the District for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third and Federal Circuits. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Intellectual Property Law Association, the Federal Circuit Bar Association and the Philadelphia Intellectual Property Law Association.

Mr. Posillico joined Synnestvedt & Lechner LLP as an associate in 1990 and became a partner in 1991.

Year Joined Organization:

1990

Practice Group(s):

Chemical and ChemPharma
Litigation

Bar Admissions:

U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit, 1993

U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1996

U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 2001

U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1986

U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 2002

Pennsylvania, 1985

New Jersey, 1987

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 1986

Education:

Temple University School of Law, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1985
J.D.

Polytechnic University of New York, 1979
B.S.
Honors: Cum Laude
Major:  Chemical Engineering

Past Employment Positions:

Woodcock Washburn, Associate
1985 - 1990

Arco Chemical Company, Research Engineer
1979 - 1985

Professional Associations and Memberships:

American Bar Association

Member

American Intellectual Property Law Association

Member

Federal Circuit Bar Association

Member

Philadelphia Intellectual Property Law Association

Member

National Lawyers Association, 1999 - Present

Member

American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 1984 - Present

Member

Representative Cases:

Get-A-Grip, II, Inc. v. Hornell Brewing Co., Inc., 2000 WL 1201570 (E.D. Pa. 2000)

Tarkett v. Congoleum, 32 U.S.P.Q. 2d 1359, 156 F.R.D. 608 (E.D. Pa. 1994)

Chiuminatta Concrete Concepts, Inc. v. Cardinal Industrial, Inc., 145 F.3d 1303 (Fed. Cir. 1998)

Published Works:

Finding the Pattern, Turning the Tables - Proving Inequitable Conduct in Patent Cases, The Legal Intelligencer, March 20, 1995

Classes/Seminars Taught:

U.S. Patent Practice for Paralegals: Preserving U.S. Patent Rights, Half Moon LLC, June 24, 2003

ADR and IP Disputes, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, June 16, 2004

Honors and Awards:

Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, 2005 - 2007

Pro Bono Activities:

Support Center for Child Advocates
Volunteer Attorney, 2005 - Present