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Tony Gomes ‘transformed’ Citrix Systems’ IP legal support. ‘Tony began developing a strategic vision that focused not only on protecting Citrix’s industry-leading products and services, but also its future innovation efforts,’ says William Prickett of Seyfarth Shaw LLP. ‘This forward-looking program has helped Citrix stay ahead of the innovation curve, and should deliver value for years to come’. One tangible result of Gomes’ work has been the ‘tremendous increase’ in the company’s patent portfolio, and the legal team quadrupling in size. ‘It’s felt like I’ve been constantly recruiting since I joined,’ Gomes concedes. The transition in-house, particularly in a management capacity, he says, is not without its challenges. ‘One of the things you don’t put a lot of focus on as an associate or partner is managing people. Managing people outside a law firm is very different – you have to recruit people with a much broader skillset, life experiences and geographical settings’. When it comes to outside counsel, Gomes looks for ‘excellent outcomes’, but with some appreciation for budgetary demands.