Millennial capitalism, without the M&Ms

By Daniel Bates

Pittsburgh-based law firm Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott LLC, isn’t waiting for the year 2000 to capitalize on the potentially chaotic effects it may have on technology.

The firm recently launched an entirely new practice group, made up of 20 litigators from all of its 11 offices, designed to specifically handle technology lawsuits. The new Technology Litigation Section is based in Pittsburgh.

The new practice offers, among other things, “Millennium Bug” services including computer hardware and software products and licenses, product defect claims, insurance coverage lawsuits, securities law and shareholder lawsuits, as well as cyberlaw issues arising from commercial activities on the Internet.

“Technology issues are already commonplace in the courtroom,” says Mark Willard, who heads up the new practice. “More and more businesses will sue or be sued over evolving technology issues, and these companies need attorneys who are already familiar with the particular technology in issue and the applicable law.”

Either way, Eckert Seamans wins in this new venture.