McCarter & English has appointed intellectual property attorney David Silvia as Office Managing Partner of its Stamford, Conn. office. Silvia succeeds partner Bas Nabulsi, who established the office and is relocating to the firm’s Boston office.
Silvia is a seasoned intellectual property lawyer whose practice spans patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and IP litigation for clients across many technology sectors. Prior to practicing law, he spent a decade as a nuclear project engineer at General Dynamics in Groton, contributing to the TRIDENT submarine design and construction program. During that time, he earned a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and led system integration efforts and the development of mechanical and electrical tooling used in the decommissioning of nuclear power plants.
“I’m honored to lead the outstanding group of attorneys and professionals in our Stamford office,” Silvia said. “Working closely with our colleagues in Hartford, McCarter has more than 60 attorneys across the state delivering full-service legal counsel. Our growth here reflects the strength of our client relationships and the collaborative culture we’ve nurtured.”
Silvia brings deep experience in patent prosecution and IP counseling, having prepared and prosecuted hundreds of patent applications across diverse technical fields, including electronic control systems, thermoformed containers, fluid filtration devices, pumps, gas turbine engines, medical devices, and computer-implemented financial and business systems. His practice also encompasses advising individual and corporate clients on internal IP policies, patent validity and enforceability, freedom-to-operate analyses, and infringement matters.
A significant portion of Silvia’s work involves patent litigation. He represents clients in enforcing patent rights, defending against infringement claims, and appealing adverse judgments. Silvia also counsels investors on the valuation of intellectual property portfolios and the financial risks associated with pending patent litigation.
“McCarter continues to grow in smart, deliberate ways across key markets,” said Joseph Boccassini, Firmwide Managing Partner. “Appointing David to lead our Stamford office ensures continuity, following Bas Nabulsi’s successful tenure as Office Managing Partner, and forward momentum. His leadership, deep technical knowledge, and collaborative approach will help us deliver even greater value to our clients across the region.”