Brinks Attorneys Win Asylum for Togolese Woman

CHICAGO, July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the
largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S., is pleased to announce
that Jon H. Beaupre and Hermine Valizadeh, both attorneys at the firm, and
Brinks alumnus Robert N. Carpenter have successfully obtained asylum for an
immigrant from the West African nation of Togo. Charles M. McMahon, a
shareholder at Brinks, and Bryan Moore, J.D., also assisted on the case.

In 2005, the Togolese woman fled to Chicago, seeking asylum in the Unites
States to escape persecution she and her family had suffered in their native
country of Togo. She revealed that because of their involvement with an
opposing political party in Togo, she had been beaten and her husband was
beaten and killed.

Mr. Carpenter, then serving as in-house counsel for a Brinks client,
approached his former colleagues at Brinks and asked if they would be
interested in co-representing the woman. Mr. Carpenter was particularly
interested in this matter because his wife had volunteered as a missionary in
Togo several years before and had special insight into the political situation
that confronts certain Togolese citizens.

An immigration judge for the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for
Immigration Review, found that the woman had a sufficient showing of past
persecution on the basis of political beliefs and that the government failed
to rebut the presumption of future persecution should she be forced to return
to Togo. The judge granted the woman asylum, and following the judge's
ruling, the government's attorney waived the right to appeal.

Mr. Carpenter is currently in-house counsel at BP America Inc.

Mr. Beaupre focuses his practice on litigation matters, including those
involving trademark and unfair competition claims, trade secrets, patents, and
contracts. He received a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of
Wisconsin Law School and a B.S. in mechanical engineering, cum laude, from the
University of Michigan.

Ms. Valizadeh focuses her practice on patent prosecution and litigation in
computer, Internet and electrical arts. Ms. Valizadeh received her J.D. from
the New England School of Law and her B.S., with distinction, in electrical
engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Mr. McMahon counsels clients and litigates in the areas of patent, trademark,
copyright and unfair competition law. He received his B.S. in electrical
engineering from the University of Notre Dame and his J.D. from The George
Washington University Law School.

Founded in 1917, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is based in Chicago with five
additional offices across the country serving the intellectual property needs
of clients from around the world. The firm is one of the largest IP law firms
in the country, with more than 170 attorneys, scientific advisors and patent
agents specializing in intellectual property litigation and all aspects of
patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, unfair competition, intellectual
asset management, and technology and licensing agreements. Brinks routinely
handles assignments in fields as diverse as electrical, chemical, mechanical,
biotechnology, pharmaceutical, nanotechnology, Internet and computer
technology, as well as in trademarks and brand names for a wide variety of
products and services. For more information, visit www.usebrinks.com.

CONTACT:
Sydney Iglitzen
(312) 840-3163
siglitzen@usebrinks.com

SOURCE Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione

Sydney Iglitzen of Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, +1-312-840-3163,
siglitzen@usebrinks.com