Rufus Pichler is a partner in the Firm’s Technology Transactions Group. He is based in our San Francisco office and frequently also works out of our Berlin office. He has over 17 years of experience advising clients on a wide range of transactional matters involving technology and intellectual property.
Mr. Pichler advises companies in the mobile communications, computer and IT, semiconductor, Internet of Things, automotive, manufacturing, biotechnology, agri-tech, and pharmaceutical industries with respect to in- and out-licenses, cross-licensing arrangements, development, joint venture and collaboration, manufacturing, supply and distribution agreements and other transactions.
Mr. Pichler has extensive experience counseling clients in connection with complex patent licensing transactions, including patent exhaustion issues, patent sales and acquisitions, FRAND licensing issues, and the development of defensive patent strategies, as well as intellectual property aspects of M&A transactions.
Mr. Pichler is qualified to practice law in the US and in Germany and has specific expertise in international intellectual property matters and cross-border transactions involving the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Clients he advised include AccuWeather, Astellas, Autodesk, Bayer, BlackBerry, DSP Group, Driscolls, Facebook, Fujitsu, Hitachi, Infineon, Intel, Novartis, Moody’s, Nikon, OculusVR, ON Semiconductor, Otto Group, Panasonic, Stryker, Technicolor, and Toshiba, among others.
Mr. Pichler holds advanced degrees in law in the U.S. and Germany. He is recognized by IAM 1000 as one of the World’s Leading Patent Professionals, by Legal 500 as a member of our Tier 1 Patent Licensing and Technology Transactions Practices, and by Managing IP as a Patent Star.
He has been a guest lecturer at Stanford Law School, teaching on international copyright licensing.
Astellas Pharma Inc.Astellas Pharma Inc. in the acquisition of its partner Mitobridge, Inc., a biotechnology company that focuses on mitochondrial therapeutics.
Hortonworks Inc.Hortonworks in a transaction with IBM focused on extending data science and machine learning across the Apache Hadoop ecosystem by combining Hortonworks Data Platform (HDP®) with IBM Data Science Experience and IBM Big SQL into new integrated solutions.
Immune-Onc Therapeutics, Inc.Immune-Onc Therapeutics on an exclusive global license and collaboration agreement with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center to develop and commercialize novel biotherapeutics with applications in cancer immunotherapy and other diseases.
BlackBerry LimitedBlackBerry in a strategic alliance and licensing transaction with the largest media, content and technology businesses in Indonesia, PT Elang Mahkota Teknologi Tbk. (Emtek) to accelerate and advance BBM cross-platform offerings.
Santen PharmaceuticalSanten on intellectual property issues in its acquisition of InnFocus, a development stage medical device company developing the MicroShunt, a biocompatible drainage device implanted in the eye to drain eye fluid and reduce intraocular pressure, as a glaucoma treatment.
Shanghai Henlius Biotech Co., Ltd.An in-licensing agreement for the exclusive rights from AbClon, a Korean company, to develop and commercialize a novel antibody product for treating gastric and breast cancers in China.
Shanghai Henlius Biotech Co., Ltd.Obtaining exclusive rights from Koltan Pharmaceuticals to develop and commercialize a novel antibody product for treating gastric, lung, and liver cancers in Asia.
Shanghai Henlius Biotech Co., Ltd.Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc. (“Henlius”) in its license agreement with Accord Healthcare Ltd. (“Accord”) for HLX02 - a Recombinant Humanized Anti-HER2 Monoclonal Antibody for Injection developed by Henlius.
Uphill Investment Co.Uphill on intellectual property issues in connection with its acquisition of Integrated Silicon Solution, Inc., a fabless semiconductor company that designs and markets high performance integrated circuits.
Netlist, Inc.Netlist, Inc. in a joint development and license agreement with Samsung Electronics to develop NVDIMM-P (NV-P) memory solutions based on Samsung's NAND Flash and DRAM and Netlist's HyperVault technology.
Autodesk Inc.Autodesk on intellectual property licensing issues and its future collaboration with FIT AG in the field of additive manufacturing in connection with Autodesk’s acquisition of netfabb GmbH, a German software developer, from FIT AG.
AccuWeatherAccuWeather in licensing transactions and the formation of a joint venture with Huafeng Media Group, the commercial weather media company owned by the China Meteorological Administration, for the distribution of enhanced weather information in China.
Intel CorporationIntel Corporation on IP issues in connection with its $650 million acquisition of LSI’s Axxia Networking Business from Avago Technologies Limited.
Intel CorporationIntel Corporation in its strategic alliance with China-based Tsinghua Unigroup and Spreadtrum Communications for the design and marketing of Intel architecture-based mobile SoC platforms for smartphones.
Intel CorporationIntel Corporation in its strategic alliance with China-based Rockchip for the design and marketing of Intel architecture-based mobile SoC platforms for tablets.
Netlist, Inc.Netlist, Inc. on a loan and patent monetization transaction with Fortress Investment Group LLC.
Intel CorporationIntel Corporation on IP issues in connection with its acquisition of Intelligent Dialogue Systems, S.L. (Indisys), a Spanish company that provides businesses with natural language and dialogue management solutions.
Intel CorporationIntel Corporation on IP issues in connection with its acquisition of Mashery.
NCR CorporationNCR Corporation on IP issues in connection with its acquisition of Israel-based retail software and services company Retalix Ltd., a stock purchase transaction valued at approximately $650 million and the largest public acquisition of an Israeli company announced in 2012.
Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in a transaction with Bayer for the marketing and co-promotion of VEGF Trap-Eye (for treatment of age-related macular degeneration) in Japan.
Gree Inc.Gree Inc. on IP issues in connection with its acquisition of mobile social games developer Funzio, Inc.
Intel CorporationIntel Corporation on its $375 million acquisition from InterDigital of roughly 1,700 patents and patent applications primarily related to wireless communication technologies.
Threshold PharmaceuticalsThreshold Pharmaceuticals in its agreement with Merck KGaA for the development and commercialization of Threshold’s cancer candidate, TH-302, with Threshold receiving up to $550 million in upfront fees and potential development and commercialization milestone payments as well as royalties.
Intel CorporationIntel Corporation on IP issues in connection with its $1.4 billion purchase of Infineon Technologies AG’s Wireless Solutions business.
ON Semiconductor CorporationON Semiconductor Corporation on IP issues in connection with its $31 million acquisition of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation’s image sensor business unit.
Advanced Micro Fabrication Equipment, Inc.Advanced Micro Fabrication Equipment, Inc. (AMEC), on IP issues in connection with settlement of certain disputes with Applied Materials, Inc.
EW Scripps and United MediaEW Scripps and United Media on IP issues in connection with their sale of rights in Charles Schulz’s “Peanuts” comic strips and characters to Iconix Brand Group and Schulz’s heirs.
Major consumer products companyA major consumer products company on copyright and other IP issues in connection with an online music talent competition.
Otto GroupOtto Group in its acquisition of the “Bombay” trademarks and related assets from Hilco Consumer Capital and Gordon Brothers Group.
Nikon MetrologyNikon Metrology on settlement and commercial agreements with Hexagon Metrology related to coordinate measuring arms.
Astellas Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Astellas Pharmaceuticals, Inc., on license agreement with Ironwood Pharmaceuticals regarding the exclusive development and commercialization by Astellas of Ironwood’s linaclotide compound in Asia.
Gruppo CampariGruppo Campari on IP issues in connection with its $575M purchase of the Wild Turkey brand and related assets from Pernod Ricard.
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., on IP issues in connection with the sale of its Imaging Systems Group to Conexant Systems, Inc.
Leading supplier of mobile handsetsA leading supplier of mobile handsets on license and collaboration agreements with major semiconductor companies regarding the design and supply of 3G chipsets.
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., on IP issues in connection with the sale of its Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) power amplifier business to Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
Intercell AGIntercell AG on marketing and distribution agreement with Novartis for Intercell’s Japanese Encephalitis vaccine in Europe, the U.S., and certain other markets.
Nikon CorporationNikon Corporation on license agreement with KLA Tencor, Inc. related to overlay measuring equipment.
Intercell AGIntercell AG in its strategic alliance with Biological E Ltd. for development, manufacture, and commercialization of Japanese Encephalitis vaccine in Asia.
Intercell AGIntercell AG on several agreements with Merck & Co., Inc., regarding the development and commercialization of a vaccine against Group A Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus infections.
Nikon CorporationNikon Corporation on complex settlement and cross-license agreements with ASML Holding N.V. and Carl Zeiss SMT AG related to lithography equipment.
Fujitsu LimitedFujitsu Limited on IP and commercial law issues in its collaboration with Sun Microsystems, Inc. (now Oracle), regarding the development and commercialization of server products.
Chambers USA states that Mr. Pichler is “hands down a go-to attorney for his diligence and creativity’.” He is also recommended by Legal 500 US as an “IP Guru” and “a uniquely technically sound and diligent lawyer” for his patent licensing and transactional work. Mr. Pichler is recommended by IAM Patent 1000 and described as “an excellent scholar and technician” and “a master of the deal-making arts,” who is in his “element brokering billion dollar transactions.”
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