Sutton Magidoff Barkume LLP Announces Partner Retirements and Admission of Sharon Barkume

Sutton Magidoff Barkume LLP announces an important transition in the firm’s history, effective September 1, 2026.

After distinguished legal careers spanning more than five decades each, Paul J. Sutton and Barry G. Magidoff will retire from the firm.

Paul, having a background in mechanical, electrical, and industrial engineering, served as corporate patent counsel, led the patent and intellectual property practices of prominent law firms, litigated complex intellectual property disputes, and advised clients on global intellectual property strategies.

Barry, drawing on his background in chemical engineering, built a wide-ranging intellectual property practice encompassing counseling, patent and trademark prosecution, licensing, and litigation. Over the course of his career, he represented clients ranging from individual inventors to major public corporations across a remarkable breadth of technologies and industries.

Throughout their careers, Paul and Barry developed a longstanding professional collaboration with each other and with Tony Barkume. They repeatedly brought their complementary experience and practical, hands-on approach to client matters before ultimately joining forces under the banner of Sutton Magidoff Barkume LLP. Their shared dedication to thoughtful, business-focused intellectual property counsel has been central to the firm’s identity and success.

We are deeply grateful to Paul and Barry for their leadership, friendship, and extraordinary contributions to the firm, its clients, and the intellectual property profession. We wish them every happiness in retirement.

Also effective September 1, 2026, Sharon F. Barkume will be admitted to the firm as partner. Sharon, holding a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, a J.D., and an M.B.A., brings extensive experience at the intersection of intellectual property, technology, and business. An electrical engineer by training, she began her career developing digital hardware and software before becoming a patent agent. After becoming a patent attorney, her work has included managing intellectual property portfolios for startups, supporting intellectual property litigation, negotiating technology licenses, and cofounding and leading a medical-device company. She has also served as general counsel, advising executive teams and overseeing patent, trademark, corporate, real estate, and commercial legal matters, including trade-secret protection, technology and licensing agreements, data-protection policies, and guidance concerning the use of artificial intelligence.

We are delighted to welcome Sharon as a partner and look forward to her contributions as Sutton Magidoff Barkume LLP begins its next chapter. The firm remains committed to providing its clients with practical, business-focused intellectual property counsel and the highest standard of service.