Hector Gallegos is a litigation partner resident in Morrison & Foerster’s Los Angeles office. His practice is focused on high technology and intellectual property litigation.

Mr. Gallegos has represented foreign and domestic companies in patent litigation in U.S. District Courts and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and before the International Trade Commission. The technologies at issue have included programmable digital logic devices, magnetic disk drives, laser printers, video display processors, computer security devices, semiconductor processes, industrial test equipment, and medical devices, among others. Mr. Gallegos also counsels clients in support of licensing of intellectual property rights worldwide.

Mr. Gallegos's substantial experience includes a broad range of complex business litigation involving software development disputes, copyright infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, and unfair competition. Significant cases include representation of companies in software development disputes. Mr. Gallegos also has considerable experience with government contracts in the defense procurement area, and has counseled clients in connection with government investigations under the Federal False Claims Act.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mr. Gallegos devoted seven years to an engineering career with Hughes Aircraft Company where he was involved in the design and development of electronic hardware and software systems. He developed specific expertise in the areas of computer hardware and software architecture, communication systems, digital and analog electronics, and digital signal processing.

Mr. Gallegos is active in several professional organizations. He is a member of the Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association and served on the Committee on Local Patent Rules. He has been a panel speaker at the California State Bar Intellectual Property Section’s Winter Conference. He has served as a member of the UCLA Law Alumni Board. Mr. Gallegos also maintains an active pro bono practice. In April 2000, he was awarded the Pro Bono Civil Liberties Award by the ACLU Foundation of Southern California.

Representative Litigation Matters

• Amado v. Microsoft Corporation – Representation of an individual inventor in a software patent infringement trial against Microsoft Corporation. Judgment of infringement was obtained for our client and affirmed by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
• Xilinx Inc. v. Altera Corporation - Successfully defended Altera Corporation in patent infringement trials in district court and the International Trade Commission involving programmable logic devices. The district court granted Judgment to Altera, and a favorable settlement was reached before a post trial decision was rendered by the Judge in the ITC action.
• Norton v. Norton - Successfully represented client through a protracted trial involving software development and copyright ownership, brand value, executive compensation, and business valuation.
• Angeion Corporation v. Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. - Prevailed on summary judgment of patent infringement involving implantable defibrillator technology, and subsequently obtained a $35 million settlement.

Other Representative Litigation and Counseling Matters

• Represented TPO Displays Corporation in patent litigation brought by Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd., involving low temperature polysilicon TFT technology for display panels.
• Represented Mitsubishi Electric Corp. in patent litigation involving cellular communication technology.
• Represented Fujitsu Ltd. in patent litigation involving magnetic computer disks.
• Represented Herbalife International in a software development dispute involving cross-claims of trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition, breach of license, and copyright infringement.
• Represented Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. in a contract dispute involving an emission reduction project at a Southern California power generating station.
• Represented a defense contractor in connection with a government investigation conducted pursuant to the False Claims Act (Qui Tam).
• Represented Ajinomoto Co., InspectAmerica, and Thomas Guide in trademark enforcement matters involving internet domain names.
• Represented Fujitsu Ltd. -- coordinated the efforts of counsel from teams in Japan, the United States, and Europe (including affiliate European counsel) in patent license negotiations against Texas Instruments involving semiconductor devices and process technology.

Representative Pro Bono Matters

• Represented a victim of slavery and trafficking in a lawsuit brought in U.S.D.C. for the Central District of California.
• Worked with the ACLU Foundation of Southern California on a class action filed on behalf of homeless individuals that were victimized by private security guards in downtown Los Angeles.
• Worked on numerous cases from the Alliance for Children’s Rights and Public Counsel.

Experience

• Member of the California Bar (1994)
• Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
• Morrison & Foerster LLP, Los Angeles Office: Partner, 2002-present; Associate, 1994-2001; Summer Associate, Summer 1993
• Morrison & Foerster LLP, Firmwide Chair of Minority Recruiting Committee, 2002-2007
• Morrison & Foerster LLP, Firmwide Associate Recruiting Committee, 2000-2007
• Morrison & Foerster LLP, Los Angeles Office: Hiring Partner, 2004-2007; Hiring Committee, 1997-2007
• Extern, Honorable Lourdes G. Baird, United States District Court for the Central District of California, Fall 1993
• Hughes Aircraft Company, Corporate Legal Dept., Summer 1992
• Hughes Aircraft Company, Radar Systems Group: Technical Supervisor, 1988-1991; Member of the Technical Staff, 1984-1988

Education

• University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law, J.D., 1994
• Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, B.S.E.E., 1984; M.S.E.E., 1988

Professional Activities

• UCLA Law, Alumni Board, 2001-2004; Mentoring Program, 1999-2003; First Year Mock Argument Judge, 1997-present
• Constitutional Rights Foundation, Mock Trial Competition, Scorer, 1996-2001; Lawyers Advisory Council, 2001; Sports and the Law Committee, 1994-1997
• Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association, Committee on Local Patent Rules, 1998-1999
• California State Bar, IP Section Winter Conference, 1997 Panel Speaker, “Bias and the IP Marketplace”

Publications

• An Introduction to International Trade Commission Litigation, with Charles S. Barquist and G. Brian Busey (2004)