Goodwin Procter New York real estate capital markets partner Robert Insolia will become only the fifth managing partner in the Boston-based firm’s 100-year history as of Feb. 1, and the first from outside Goodwin’s hometown.

In the ongoing stent patent litigation wars, a New Jersey federal judge has dismissed infringement claims that Johnson & Johnson and its partner Wyeth brought against Abbott Laboratories, Medtronic and Boston Scientific. The judge invalidated the two patents at issue on “written description” grounds.

A Boston federal judge has denied motions by Ropes & Gray and former partner Matthew Vincent to dismiss a malpractice case based on Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s claims that they mishandled patent applications at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Ropes & Gray has filed a motion in Boston federal court to have two of nine counts dismissed in an employment discrimination suit filed against the firm by a former associate. John Ray III claims in his complaint that the firm treated him as a “token black associate” and a “diversity hire.”

A case against Bank of America alleging improper denials of homeowners’ loan modification applications has survived a dismissal motion in Boston federal court. The case involves 46 named plaintiffs who obtained home mortgage loans from a BofA subsidiary.