Boston, (OCTOBER 22, 2025) – Saul Ewing LLP has expanded its Intellectual Property Practice in the firm's Boston office with the hiring of Partner John Powell, who brings more than 30 years of experience helping clients strategically build and manage their patent portfolios, along with Associate Kurt Hoppmann, who focuses primarily on patent applications and prosecution.
"Saul Ewing is thrilled to welcome John and Kurt to the firm," said Joseph D. Lipchitz, Boston Office Managing Partner. "John has a strong record of building robust patent portfolios for clients across diverse industries. This, combined with his in-house corporate experience and educational background in electrical engineering, allows him to connect with clients on both a business and technical level, helping them to identify pathways to maximize value of their intellectual property and mitigate the risks of bringing it to market."
Mr. Powell's practice includes proactive and efficient patent preparation and prosecution, including advising on patent protection strategies in both the United States and internationally and assisting clients assessing the competitive patent landscapes to mitigate risk. On the transaction side of his practice, Mr. Powell drafts and negotiates patent and technology licensing agreements, development agreements, and other commercial agreements where IP is an important component of the transaction.
Mr. Powell draws on his nearly two decades of in-house legal experience with major corporations in the cleantech, telecommunications, and defense industries and his educational background as an electrical engineer to shape his advice to clients on how to build their IP portfolios to maximize value.
Before he returned to private practice, Mr. Powell was vice president and general counsel of American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) and in-house counsel at companies including Motorola and Raytheon. His work at AMSC included leading an international legal case featured on "60 Minutes" over trade secret theft of critical software worth hundreds of millions of dollars by an ex-employee and a Chinese company. The matter led to the filing of several civil IP cases in China as well as an FBI investigation and Department of Justice prosecution that resulted in the criminal conviction of a former AMSC employee and the Chinese company for stealing trade secrets. The matter was eventually settled with a mid-eight-figure restitution payment by the Chinese company to AMSC.
"This case not only demonstrates the breadth and depth of John's ability to lead companies through high-profile crises involving their intellectual property, but also underscores his ability to protect and advance clients' interests on a global scale," said William C. Baton, co-chair of the firm's Intellectual Property Practice.
Mr. Powell and Mr. Hoppmann both earned their J.D. from the University of New Hampshire, Franklin Pierce School of Law. Mr. Powell has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire. Mr. Hoppmann has a B.S. in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Wisconsin.
About Saul Ewing
Saul Ewing is a full-service, national law firm with more than 450 attorneys and a team of top-notch business professionals, all working together to deliver practical, proactive advice and excellent client service. Our diversity of thought, focus on innovation, cross-serving practices, and culture of coaching create a collegial and supportive environment that inspires us to deliver inspired solutions. This is The Saul Approach.
