Deanne Maynard, co-chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Appellate and Supreme Court practice, is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading appellate advocates. She has argued 14 cases before the United States Supreme Court and more than 65 cases in appellate courts across the country.
In ranking Deanne in Band 1 nationwide, Chambers USA reports that clients describe her as a “magnificent and top-notch lawyer” who is “wicked smart.” Clients told Legal 500 that Deanne is “one of the finest advocates in the Supreme Court bar,” remarking that “if she is on your team, great. If she’s on the other side, be ready.” Deanne’s Supreme Court arguments involve a wide range of issues and industries, including life sciences (Sandoz v. Amgen), intellectual property (MedImmune v. Genentech), antitrust (Pacific Bell v. linkLine), financial services (Ransom v. FIA Card Services), and bankruptcy (RadLAX v. Amalgamated Bank). In Sandoz v. Amgen, the Supreme Court ruled for her client in a closely watched case involving the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act, which provides a streamlined approval path for biosimilars. Law360 named Deanne to its exclusive list of Appellate MVPs for this “big victory,” which it described as “a major decision that will speed up access to the lower-cost medicines,” and it dubbed her a “Legal Lion” three separate times for her work on appeals in this case.
Deanne also argues complex, high stakes cases in courts of appeals nationwide. She has a long record of winning appeals for sophisticated clients. Clients turn to Deanne for crisp, clear briefs and exceptional oral advocacy. Her appellate wins run a gamut of issues from arbitration to antitrust, class actions to contracts, copyright to Commerce Clause, infringement to invalidity, and securities law to statutory interpretation. Clients praise her as a “magnificent and top-notch lawyer,” “an incredible oral advocate, very prepared and formidable” (Chambers USA), and “a tireless advocate with sterling client skills” (Legal 500).
Deanne has particular experience in the Federal and Ninth Circuits, where she has collectively argued dozens of appeals. In patent appeals in the Federal Circuit, she has successfully represented both patentees and defendants, including leading technology and life sciences companies. Clients note that “in the pharmaceuticals patent space she’s at the very top of the game” (Chambers USA). LMG Life Sciences recently recognized Deanne as the 2019 Appellate Litigator of the Year for multiple, significant wins. In the Ninth Circuit, her many wins include a decision from the en banc Court holding large parts of a California statute unconstitutional as well as a panel decision vacating a $60 million jury verdict.
Before joining Morrison & Foerster, Deanne served as an Assistant to the Solicitor General at the U.S. Department of Justice for five years. She previously was a partner at another major law firm.
After law school, Deanne clerked twice on the United States Supreme Court. She clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer in his first year on the Court. During the previous Term, she clerked for Justice Lewis Powell (Ret.) and Justice John Paul Stevens. Before that, Deanne clerked two years for Judge Stanley Harris of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Deanne graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where she was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. She earned a B.A. in English, with distinction, from the University of Virginia.
Deanne is annually recommended as a leading lawyer by Chambers USA, Legal 500 US, and Best Lawyers in America. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, selected for her distinction as an appellate lawyer.
Deanne serves on the Board of Trustees of the Supreme Court Historical Society. She also is a Master in, and Past President of, the Coke Appellate Inn of Court.
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