VPR Brands, LP (OTC: VPRB) announced today that it has retained McAndrews, Held & Malloy, Ltd. as lead patent counsel for its US Patent No. 8,205,622 B2, which covers foundational auto-draw electronic cigarette technology. The firm, ranked Tier One nationally in patent law and IP litigation by US News Best Law Firms 2026, will handle all aspects of licensing, commercialization, and enforcement, including potential proceedings before the US International Trade Commission (ITC) and federal courts.
Matthew McAndrews, a senior partner at the firm, has been appointed lead counsel. His experience includes litigating dozens of cases resulting in nine-figure recoveries and arguing before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, where he has obtained reversals in a majority of appeals. McAndrews is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States and holds Martindale-Hubbell's highest AV Preeminent rating. The firm has been involved in IP transactions exceeding $15 billion in cumulative value over the past five years.
The '622 patent, titled "Electronic Cigarette," expires around July 2030 and covers airflow-activated sensing architectures used in buttonless auto-draw devices. This technology is broadly relevant to closed-system ENDS products authorized by the FDA under the PMTA process, including major national brands. VPR Brands has previously executed licensing agreements with more than 17 parties across the ENDS supply chain, including large brands, manufacturers, and distributors. The patent has survived two inter partes review challenges at the USPTO, with both petitions denied at institution.
The ENDS industry is experiencing heightened patent enforcement activity, with multiple Section 337 proceedings before the ITC involving major participants. McAndrews, Held & Malloy's engagement positions VPR Brands to participate in licensing, structured IP transactions, or enforcement. The firm's practice includes ITC Section 337 proceedings, PTAB reviews, and M&A support, including IP due diligence and portfolio valuation.
Kevin Frija, CEO of VPR Brands, stated, "We have engaged one of the country's leading IP firms to advance our licensing and commercialization program for US Patent No. 8,205,622 B2. The patent covers foundational auto-draw electronic cigarette technology that is broadly relevant to FDA PMTA-authorized products currently on the market." He added that the company remains open to commercially reasonable resolutions with industry participants.
McAndrews, Held & Malloy has 90+ attorneys, 74 of whom are USPTO-registered, with an average experience of 18 years—nearly double the industry average. The firm is recognized by IAM Patent 1000, IAM Strategy 300, and Chambers USA. Its dedicated FDA regulatory IP practice includes patent term extensions and PMTA-related patent analysis, directly relevant to the ENDS sector.
VPR Brands, a Delaware limited partnership, designs and markets its own branded products, including HoneyStick and Dissim lines, and holds US and international patents. The company has been active in the ENDS space since 2009 and maintains an R&D program focused on novel technologies.
