Deanne E. Maynard

For more than 20 years, Deanne Maynard, co-chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Appellate and Supreme Court practice, has briefed and argued significant appeals in the United States Supreme Court and appellate courts across the country. She has argued 14 cases before the Supreme Court and filed over 100 briefs in that Court.

Clients describe Ms. Maynard as “wicked smart” (Chambers USA) and “one of the finest advocates in the Supreme Court bar” (Legal 500), remarking that "if she is on your team, great. If she's on the other side, be ready." Her Supreme Court arguments involve a wide range of issues and industries, including life sciences (Sandoz v. Amgen), intellectual property (MedImmune v. Genentech), bankruptcy (RadLAX v. Amalgamated Bank), financial services (Ransom v. FIA Card Services), and antitrust (Pacific Bell v. linkLine) . In Sandoz v. Amgen, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously for her client Sandoz in a closely watched case involving the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act, which provides a streamlined approval path for biosimilars. Law360 named Ms. Maynard 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.

Ms. Maynard also argues complex, high stakes cases in the federal courts of appeals. In Estate of Graham v. Sotheby’s, she successfully argued to the en banc Ninth Circuit that a California copyright royalty statute was unconstitutional as applied outside the State. Her victories include notable reversals, including convincing the Federal Circuit to vacate a $101 million jury verdict and the Ninth Circuit to set aside a $60 million jury verdict.

Ms. Maynard’s appellate practice is nationwide. She has particular experience in the Federal Circuit, where she has argued 35 appeals, representing both patentees and defendants, on a variety of technologies. Clients note that “in the pharmaceuticals patent space she’s at the very top of the game” (Chambers USA). Ms. Maynard also appears regularly in the Ninth Circuit, where she has argued more than 15 appeals. Clients praise her as "an incredible oral advocate, very prepared and formidable" (Chambers USA), “exceptionally talented” and as “a tireless advocate with sterling client skills” (Legal 500).

Before joining Morrison & Foerster, Ms. Maynard 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, Ms. Maynard clerked twice on the Supreme Court. She clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer in his first year. During the previous Term, she clerked for Justice Lewis Powell (Ret.) and Justice John Paul Stevens. Before that, Ms. Maynard clerked two years for Judge Stanley Harris of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Ms. Maynard 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.

Ms. Maynard 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.

Ms. Maynard 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.