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Morrison Foerster Achieves Top-Tier Recognition in Managing IP’s 2024 Rankings

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Morrison Foerster has once again been named a leading law firm by Managing IP in its 2024 rankings, including 15 practice area rankings and 56 individual recognitions across the United States, Europe and Asia. 

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Morrison Foerster has once again been named a leading law firm by Managing IP in its 2024 rankings, including 15 practice area rankings and 56 individual recognitions across the United States, Europe and Asia. Managing IP identifies leading law firms and practitioners through a combination of market research and firm submissions.Of the 15 practice area rankings, the firm notably earned Tier 1 recognitions in the Japan: Patent and United States: Copyright & related rights categories, as well as an improved Tier ranking for United States: Patent prosecution, and a new ranking for United States: Trademark disputes. MoFo also earned Tier rankings in the United States: IP Transactions, ITC Litigation, Life Sciences IP, and Patent disputes categories, in addition to being highlighted as a “Highly Recommended” firm across various practices in California, and a “Recommended” firm in the District of Columbia and Japan. These varied, top-tier rankings reflect the firm’s expertise throughout the IP process and across international borders.Twenty MoFo lawyers were recognized as IP Stars, including:<ul><li>Jonathan Bockman – Patent star</li><li>Kira Davis – Patent star</li><li>Bindu Donovan – Patent star</li><li>Daralyn Durie – Copyright, Patent, and Trademark star</li><li>Arturo González – Patent and Trademark star</li><li>Joseph Gratz – Copyright and Trademark star</li><li>Steven James – Trademark star</li><li>Todd Krause – Patent star</li><li>Scott Llewellyn – Patent star</li><li>Brian Matsui – Patent star</li><li>Deanne Maynard – Patent star</li><li>Brian Nash – Patent star</li><li>Max Olson – Patent star</li><li>Catherine Polizzi – Patent star</li><li>Shannon Reaney – Patent Star</li><li>William Schwartz – Transactions star</li><li>Stephanie Sharron – Trademark and Transactions star</li><li>Ragesh Tangri – Copyright, Patent, and Trademark star</li><li>Michael Ward – Patent star</li><li>Chie Yakura – Patent star</li></ul>Additionally, partners Bindu Donovan and Catherine Polizzi have been listed among Managing IP’s Top 250 Women in IP; of counsel Ruth Arkley has been named Notable IP practitioner; and partner Lily Li has been recognized as Rising star.To view the complete list of Morrison Foerster’s rankings in the 2024 edition of Managing IP, please visit the publication’s <a href="https://www.ipstars.com/" target="_blank">website</a>.

Morrison Foerster Achieves Top-Tier Recognition in Managing IP’s 2024 Rankings

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Jon Bockman is the head of the firm’s Technology Patent Practice. In this capacity, he leads the firm’s prominent group of patent practitioners with degrees in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, computer engineering, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering and physics. His team handles work in all technology areas including medical devices, AI and machine learning, cybersecurity, computer hardware, advanced materials, and robotics. His practice concentrates on domestic and international patent prosecution, portfolio management, IP due diligence, patent infringement and validity determinations, and IP litigation support. His clients range from some of the largest domestic and international companies to early-stage startups.As lead patent prosecution counsel for several large and emerging companies, Jon has helped clients set up patent departments and committees for building and maintaining strategic patent portfolios. Clients note to IAM Patent 1000 that “[Jon] provides expert legal advice that is clear, understandable and tailored to the needs of the specific client. He is very responsive and is always available when you need him.”Jon has extensive experience helping clients navigate IP concerns including freedom-to-operate and potential litigation issues. Jon is also experienced with leading patent due diligence projects related to investments and mergers and acquisitions. He often leads investor-side and company-side patent due diligence reviews related to these transactions.Jon is a member of the firm’s Inter Partes Review and Post Grant Practice. In this capacity, he handles inter partes review and post-grant review proceedings that were introduced by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. He has also handled many disputes for clients in front of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), including inter partes reexaminations, ex parte reexaminations, and derivation proceedings.Jon is recognized as an IP Star by Managing Intellectual Property and as a leading patent practitioner by IAM Patent 1000. He is also recommended by The Legal 500 US for patent prosecution. While earning his J.D., Jon was the associate editor of the University of Colorado Law Review.

Jonathan Bockman

Partner

Kira is an experienced courtroom lawyer who assists life sciences companies in high-stakes patent litigation.Kira is the head of Morrison Foerster’s Los Angeles Litigation Department, a partner in the IP Litigation Group, and a member of the firm-wide Life Sciences + Healthcare Leadership Team. She regularly serves as counsel in intellectual property lawsuits involving cutting-edge technology, including foundational antibody technology, antibody cancer immunotherapies, fusion proteins, small-molecule therapeutics, transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement devices, and genetic testing and genomics technology. Kira litigates on behalf of both patentees and defendants and has significant experience representing innovators in disputes arising out of proposed generic and biosimilar launches.    Kira has been recognized by a number of regional and national publications, including as a Litigator of the Week by The American Lawyer. In 2023, she was named a Top Healthcare Lawyer by the Daily Journal.   Kira’s approach is to gain a deep understanding not only of the technology at issue, but also of her clients’ business objectives and goals, and to work closely with her clients to build litigation and pre-litigation strategies that match those goals. As a trial lawyer, Kira is known for her levelheaded and trustworthy style, allowing client witnesses to shine through on direct examination and cutting through the noise on cross-examination.In addition to U.S. district court litigation, Kira regularly advises clients on proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, both in matters with co-pending litigation and in stand-alone PTAB proceedings. She also often coordinates global patent litigation strategy across multiple jurisdictions, including England, Ireland, Germany, and Switzerland.Kira also has experience representing clients in connection with other types of litigation and investigative matters, including antitrust litigation, contract disputes, white-collar criminal matters, complex commercial disputes, sports-related matters, and internal investigations.Kira began her legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable John M. Rogers in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Prior to joining the firm, Kira was a partner at Durie Tangri, a premier litigation boutique.Kira received her J.D. summa cum laude from Cornell Law School. She received her B.A. in classics from Ohio Wesleyan University.She is admitted to practice in California and New York.

Kira Davis

Bindu Donovan has been litigating high-stakes intellectual property disputes in the life sciences field for over 25 years.Bindu, a seasoned partner in Morrison Foerster’s Intellectual Property Litigation group specializes in patent litigation in U.S. federal district courts. She has a broad range of experience in life sciences, representing clients in matters related to biologic and small-molecule drugs, medical devices, recombinant proteins, and vaccines. Her extensive portfolio extends to representing innovator companies in Hatch-Waxman cases covering treatments for ADHD, diabetes, influenza, hypertension, and metastatic prostate cancer, including blockbuster drugs.Bindu excels in leading large litigation teams in all aspects of complex patent infringement disputes, including pre-suit investigations, pre-trial and expert discovery, trial preparation, and trial. She is adept at coordinating global strategies for her clients’ most important products. Additionally, her experience includes breach of contract and trade secret disputes, mediation, and arbitration.Bindu has been consistently recognized as a leading practitioner in her field. LMG Life Sciences acknowledged her contributions to life sciences-related patent work, and IAM Patent 1000 ranked her as a Leading IP Litigation Lawyer. Additional notable accolades include being named one of the Top 250 Women in Litigation and a Local Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation. Managing Intellectual Property also named her an “IP Star” and one of the Top 250 Women in IP.Bindu serves on the board of managers of the New Jersey Intellectual Property Law Association (NJIPLA) and participates in various other legal organizations.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>Represented international biopharmaceutical company in confidential matter involving offensive and defensive patent assertion strategy concerning vaccines.</li><li>Represented international biopharmaceutical company in confidential pre-suit investigation relating to fusion protein.</li><li>Represented VMI Holland BV in breach of contract action.</li><li>Represented patent holder Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd., in patent infringement suits filed under the Hatch-Waxman Act involving pulmonary arterial hypertension drug Tracleer®.</li><li>Represented patent holder Avanos in patent infringement suit involving cooled radiofrequency ablation products.</li><li>Represented patent holder Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, Janssen, in patent infringement suits filed under the Hatch-Waxman Act and inter partes review proceedings involving prostate cancer drug, Zytiga®.</li><li>Represented patent holders Gilead and Roche/Genentech in patent infringement suit filed under the Hatch-Waxman Act involving influenza drug, Tamiflu®.</li><li>Represented patent holders Cordis Corporation and Wyeth in patent infringement suits involving drug eluting stents.</li><li>Represented defendant Johnson & Johnson in patent infringement suit involving sunscreen compositions.</li><li>Represented a pharmaceutical company in a patent infringement lawsuit filed under the Hatch-Waxman Act involving a medication for ADHD.</li><li>Represented patent holder SmithKline Beecham in patent infringement suit filed under the Hatch-Waxman Act involving Type 2 diabetes drug, Avandia®.</li></ul>

Bindu Donovan

Daralyn Durie is among the top trial lawyers in the country, acting as go-to trial counsel for both plaintiffs and defendants. Daralyn’s exceptional track record has earned her consistent recognition from leading national publications. Chambers has listed her among the top 10 intellectual property lawyers in the U.S. and Law360 has recognized her as an “Icon of IP” and an MVP. Benchmark Litigation reported that “going against her was like going against a boxer in which you know you’re going to get hurt.” She’s a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and an inductee into the California Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame.Daralyn’s legal career began at Berkeley Law, followed by a clerkship for the Honorable Douglas Ginsburg on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She became a partner at a litigation boutique in 1999 and, in 2009, co-founded Durie Tangri, a premier litigation boutique that later combined with Morrison Foerster in 2023.In addition to her courtroom successes, Daralyn is actively involved in the legal community. She is a board member of the National Women’s Law Center, a past president of the Northern California Association of Business Trial Lawyers, and served as an adjunct professor at Berkeley Law, where she taught civil trial advocacy.Life SciencesDaralyn has decades of experience in the life sciences sector. She spearheaded the enforcement of Genentech’s Cabilly family of patents, which generated billions of dollars in licensing revenue. She served as lead counsel in the Herceptin biosimilar litigation and recently achieved a plaintiff-side jury verdict of $178 million in a patent infringement case involving melanoma therapy.TechnologyIn the tech sector, Daralyn recently won defense jury verdicts for Aptiv (USB hubs), Activision (in the Eastern District of Texas), and Redbubble. She served as lead counsel for Google, defending Google Books from copyright infringement claims. Following extensive litigation on copyright and antitrust issues, Google prevailed on summary judgment, resulting in Daralyn being named an Attorney of the Year by California Lawyer magazine.

Daralyn Durie

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe title="Meet Arturo González Commercial Litigator" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/jIM9npubu4I?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="1" title="iframe"></iframe></div>Arturo is one of the nation’s top trial lawyers. One federal judge said his “trial advocacy skills were superior,” while a federal magistrate described his trial skills as “phenomenal.” He is sought after by America’s largest companies, in part because of his ability to communicate with increasingly diverse juries. Arturo has had great success representing both plaintiffs and defendants. He may be the only lawyer in the country to obtain defense victories for clients in multiple billion dollar matters and also four jury verdicts in excess of $10 million, including verdicts of $39.3 and $13.8 million in trade secrets cases. Arturo is a Fellow with the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and an associate with the American Board of Trial Advocates.He has served as MoFo’s lead trial counsel in a number of significant matters, including:<ul><li>Waymo v. Uber: Won a favorable settlement after four days of jury trial. Defeated motion for preliminary injunction that sought to bar Uber’s autonomous vehicle program.</li><li>Phoenix Technologies Ltd. v. VMWare, Inc.: Won a defense verdict in copyrights case seeking over $100 million and future royalties.</li><li>Phaedrus v. Kaiser Permanente: Won a defense verdict for Kaiser in a $125 million trade secrets misappropriation and breach of contract case.</li><li>Hansen Medical v. Luna Innovations Inc.: Won a $36.3 million verdict in a trial involving medical robotics. Jury found that defendant willfully misappropriated trade secrets and breached two contracts.</li></ul>Arturo has obtained a number of record jury verdicts, including $12.5 million for the unlawful shooting of a farmworker, $1.45 million for unlawful strip searches, and $63 million in a wrongful death suit.Arturo has earned a wealth of recognition from his peers. In 2021, Arturo joined the California Lawyers Association’s Trial Attorney Hall of Fame, an award bestowed upon attorneys who have excelled as trial lawyers and whose careers exemplify the highest values and professional attainment. He was also honored in 2019, by the American Bar Association for his dedication to providing free legal services to the poor. He was named to Legal 500’s Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame in 2017, has nine consecutive selections to the Daily Journal’s Top 100 Lawyers in California, is recommended by Chambers USA as a top commercial litigator, and has been selected annually since 2010, as one of the country’s top 30 trial lawyers by Legal 500, United States. In 2009, The National Law Journal recognized him as one of the top 10 trial lawyers in the country in their “Winning” Special Report. Earlier in his career, he was selected by National Law Journal as one of the nation’s top 40 lawyers under the age of 40 and one of the “50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America.”Arturo served as the 2010 President of the Bar Association of San Francisco.

Arturo J. González

Clients turn to Joe Gratz to handle trailblazing litigation where copyright and trademark law meet new technologies. An experienced litigator, Joe draws on his strong technical background to distill complex issues into simple, accurate concepts for judges, juries, and clients. Joe’s cases have set key precedents in Internet law, from the Google Books case that laid the groundwork for today’s generative AI innovations to key cases establishing the boundaries of intermediary liability. In addition to representing their interests in the courtroom, Joe helps his clients navigate their thorniest product counseling puzzles to reduce the risk of litigation.His appellate victory in Long v. Facebook set the standard for platforms in carrying out DMCA removals of user-generated content. And Joe’s win in Stevens v. CoreLogic established limitations on DMCA 1202 claims that have since been adopted by numerous other courts. His amicus brief on behalf of independent booksellers was cited by the Supreme Court in its opinion in Wiley v. Kirtsaeng, and he has submitted amicus briefs in other copyright cases on behalf of Center for Democracy & Technology (in Oracle v. Google) and on behalf of art law professors (in Warhol v. Goldsmith).A recognized commentator on copyright and internet law, Joe was selected as an advisor for the American Law Institute’s project to develop a Restatement of Copyright, and serves on the Advisory Board of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. He frequently speaks on emerging issues in Internet law and was called upon by the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020 to testify about the interaction between the DMCA 512 safe harbor and fair use. Joe was the 2022 recipient of the California Lawyers Association’s IP Vanguard award, presented to one private practitioner each year for achievements at the forefront of emerging issues in intellectual property law.

Joseph Gratz

Scott Llewellyn’s practice focuses on complex litigation in federal and state courts around the country, with an emphasis on patent and trade secret disputes. Over the past decade, he has worked on some of the most significant, high–profile IP cases involving technology for televisions, smartphones, and self–driving cars, relying on 40 years of experience with computer hardware and software. Scott also has significant experience with business divorce cases before courts and arbitrators, involving a mix of trade secret, patent, tort, and contract claims relating to technology development and implementation.Scott also has successfully tried general commercial arbitration and agency matters, briefed and argued various appeals in federal appellate court, and tried more than 20 cases for the Denver City Attorney’s office, most of them jury trials.Scott also has an active pro bono practice, having worked on a variety of criminal and immigration appeals, and having represented Colorado criminal defense and mental health organizations in high–profile suits against the state of Colorado for violations of the constitutional rights of defendants.At MoFo, Scott serves on the board of the Morrison & Foerster Foundation. In the broader legal community, he serves on the boards of the Colorado Lawyers Committee and Drop in the Bucket (a charity that builds wells and sanitation systems in sub–Saharan Africa).After law school, Scott clerked for the Honorable Clarence A. Brimmer, District of Wyoming, and the Honorable Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain, Ninth Circuit. He was also previously an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center.

Scott F. Llewellyn

Brian Matsui is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Appellate and Supreme Court practice. Brian is a go-to appellate advocate for sophisticated clients in complex appeals.Brian has a nationwide appellate practice. He has argued cases in federal and state appellate courts throughout the country, winning appeals involving commercial disputes, securities litigation and enforcement, government contracts, consumer class actions, and intellectual property. He has led appeals in the D.C., Second, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, Eleventh, and Federal Circuits. His arguments include significant victories in class action appeals and in appeals for leading financial services companies, with multiple victories in the Ninth Circuit, where he clerked. Brian has recently gone six for seven when representing appellants, including a precedential victory in the Ninth Circuit in a licensing dispute concerning alleged patent misuse. He also argued and won a D.C. Circuit appeal against the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) about the retroactivity of part of the Dodd-Frank Act. As a result of Brian’s win, the SEC had to change its enforcement practices against certain securities industry professionals.Clients frequently turn to Brian for his substantial experience with appeals in the Federal Circuit, praising him as “an invaluable advocate in patent matters” (Chambers USA). Brian has won 15 of his last 17 appeals in that Court. His arguments before the Federal Circuit include winning appeals from district courts, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and the International Trade Commission. He has handled appeals in a myriad of industries, including mobile devices, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, semiconductors, and software.Brian also plays a key role on trial teams, advising clients on both critical legal issues and appellate preservation. He recently argued and prevailed against a summary judgment invalidity motion in a case involving Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.’s revolutionary antibody recycling technology, which ultimately led to a $775 million settlement on the eve of trial for Chugai.A former law clerk for the United States Supreme Court, Brian has authored many briefs in that Court, including on important constitutional and statutory interpretation issues. He often represents clients’ interests in amicus briefs in significant Supreme Court cases affecting the business community.Leading publications have recognized Brian for his appellate skills. Chambers USA ranks him in its Intellectual Property: Appellate category, The Legal 500 US recommends him for Appellate Litigation, and the National Law Journal named him one of its Minority 40 Under 40.Brian also dedicates significant time to pro bono matters. He argued and won two significant appeals—in the Second and Ninth Circuits—obtaining reversals of judgments that had denied private rights of action under the Child Welfare Act in precedential decisions. Brian also led the Morrison Foerster team who co-counseled a successful Eighth Amendment challenge to Florida’s imposition of a life without the possibility of parole sentence to a juvenile offender convicted of a non-homicide crime.Brian serves on the board of directors of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. For years, Brian chaired the ABA’s seven-person Standing Committee for Amicus Curiae Briefs. He served on the American Intellectual Property Law Association’s amicus committee and co-chaired the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association’s amicus committee. Brian also served as an appellate lawyer representative for the Ninth Circuit. Before entering private practice, Brian clerked on the United States Supreme Court for Justice Anthony M. Kennedy. He also clerked for Judge Pamela Ann Rymer in the Ninth Circuit and Judge David F. Levi in the Eastern District of California.While in law school, Brian served as managing editor of Volume 51 of the Stanford Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif.<h4>Representative Oral Arguments</h4><ul><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/260219-snipr-technologies-ltd-v-rockefeller" target="_blank">SNIPR Technologies Ltd. v. Rockefeller University</a> (Fed. Cir.). Prevailed in a precedential decision reversing the Patent Office’s interpretation of the America Invents Act (AIA) that subjected patents post-dating the Act to pre-AIA interference proceedings. The decision revived five of SNIPR’s patents related to CRISPR technology. </li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/220114-broadcom-corporation-v-renesas-matsui" target="_self">Renesas Electronics Corporation v. Broadcom Corporation</a> (12:40) (Fed. Cir.). Successfully argued and briefed multiple appeals from an International Trade Commission (ITC) decision and several Patent Trial and Appeal Board decisions related to an ITC investigation initiated by Broadcom involving systems-on-chip powering automobile infotainment systems. </li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/210706-cr-bard-v-medline-industries" target="_self">C.R. Bard Inc. v. Medline Industries, Inc.</a> (0:45) (Fed. Cir.). Won vacatur of three Patent Trial and Appeal Board decisions on obviousness. </li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/260219-advanced-voice-recognition-systems-inc" target="_self">Advanced Voice Recognition Systems, Inc. v. Apple Inc.</a> (14:30) (Fed. Cir.). Secured a complete victory in appeal from Patent Trial and Appeal Board that all challenged patent claims were unpatentable. </li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/260219-william-paulus-v-ocera-therapeutics" target="_self">William Paulus v. Ocera Therapeutics, Inc.</a> (13:25) (9th Cir.). Successfully argued and briefed appeal in a putative shareholder class action involving a tender offer. </li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/260219-kurtz-v-costco-wholesale-corporation" target="_self">Kurtz v. Costco Wholesale Corporation</a> (9:23) (2d Cir.). Successfully petitioned for review of a class certification decision, then argued and obtained a remand for the district court to reconsider its certification decision, and an eventual reversal on an injunctive class certification decision. </li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/161117-gregory-bartko-v-sec.html" target="_self">Gregory Bartko v. SEC</a> (0:53) (D.C. Cir.). Successfully argued and obtained precedential ruling that the Securities and Exchange Commission could not retroactively apply the Dodd-Frank Act’s industry-wide sanctions on securities professionals for certain securities violations. </li></ul>

Brian Matsui

Deanne Maynard, a Partner in 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 75 times in appellate courts across the country.In ranking Deanne in Band 1, Chambers USA reports that she is described as a “magnificent and top-notch lawyer” who is “wicked smart.” She is “extremely thoughtful, even-keeled and has a wonderful presence in the courtroom.” Legal 500 calls Deanne “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 winning 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 an approval path for biosimilars. Law360 named Deanne to its exclusive list of <a href="http://media2.mofo.com/documents/171212-mvp-deanne-maynard.pdf" target="_blank">Appellate MVPs</a> for this “big victory,” dubbing her a “Legal Lion” three separate times for her work on appeals in this case. LMG Life Sciences also named Deanne Appellate Litigator of the Year.Deanne argues complex, high stakes cases in courts of appeals nationwide. 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 “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. She has argued more than 45 appeals in the Federal Circuit, including wins for both patentees and defendants on a wide range of technologies. Chambers USA ranked Deanne in Band 1 for Intellectual Property Appeals, describing her as “renowned for her track record in bet-the-company disputes.” She also serves as Chair of the Federal Circuit’s Advisory Council, which is a conduit between the Court and the public. 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.Deanne is annually recommended as a leading lawyer by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, Legal 500 US, and Best Lawyers in America. She is Immediate Past-President of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, an invitation-only organization recognizing distinguished appellate lawyers. Deanne is also a Master in, and Past President of, the Coke Appellate Inn of Court.Deanne is a leader within Morrison Foerster as well, chairing its partner compensation committee and serving on the firm’s leadership team.Before joining the firm, 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 two Terms on the United States Supreme Court, one for Justice Stephen Breyer and another for Justice Lewis Powell (Ret.) and Justice John Paul Stevens. Before that, Deanne clerked two years for Judge Stanley Harris on 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.<h4>Supreme Court Arguments</h4><ul><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/170426-sandoz-v-amgen" target="_self">Sandoz v. Amgen</a> (00:17): Involving the Supreme Court’s first foray into the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/120423-radlax-v-amalgamated-bank" target="_self">RadLAX v. Amalgamated Bank</a> (25:46): Whether a debtor can sell a secured asset free and clear without permitting the lienholder to credit-bid</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/081208-pacific-bell-v-linkline" target="_self">Pacific Bell v. linkLine</a> (18:38): Whether Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act permits a price squeeze claim in the absence of a duty to deal</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/061004-medimmune-v-genentech" target="_self">MedImmune v. Genentech</a> (17:38): Whether a patent licensee must breach a license agreement before seeking a declaration of patent invalidity</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/101004-ransom-v-fia-card-services" target="_self">Ransom v. FIA Card Services</a> (26:34): Involving when a debtor without lease payments may take a car-ownership deduction</li><li>EC Term of Years Trust v. U.S.: Whether the federal tax code relegates a trust to a wrongful levy action as its exclusive remedy</li><li>Marshall v. Marshall: Involving the scope of the probate exception to federal jurisdiction</li><li>U.S. v. Olson: Involving the federal government’s sovereign immunity under the Federal Tort Claims Act</li><li>Wilkinson v. Austin: Whether the procedures governing placement of prisoners in supermax prison satisfied due process</li><li>Greenlaw v. U.S.: Involving the power of the court of appeals in the absence of a cross-appeal</li><li>Dean v. U.S.: Whether the accidental discharge of a firearm during a robbery results in a mandatory minimum prison term</li><li>Carcieri v. Salazar: Involving the Secretary of the Interior’s authority to take land into trust for Indians</li><li>Boulware v. U.S.: Whether a profitless corporation’s diversion of funds to a shareholder was nontaxable</li><li>Watson v. U.S.: Whether trading drugs for a firearm was “using” a firearm “during and in relation” to a drug trafficking crime</li></ul><h4>Representative Appellate Arguments</h4><ul><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/241113-novartis-v-torrent" target="_self">Novartis v. Torrent</a> (00:00) (Fed. Cir.): Revived the validity of Novartis’s foundational patent protecting its blockbuster drug Entresto®</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/231207-lynwood-investments-cy-limited-v-maxim-konovalov" target="_self">Lynwood Investments v. Konovalov</a> (16:43) (9th Cir.): Successfully defended dismissal of the vast majority of claims against F5 Network</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/210903-in-re-cirba" target="_self">In re Cirba</a> (25:53) (Fed. Cir.): Successfully defeated attempt to revive a jury’s patent infringement verdict against VMware</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/170426-phigenix-v-genentech" target="_self">Phigenix v. Genentech </a>(11:21) (Fed. Cir.): Secured noninfringement judgment for Genentech</li></ul><ul><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/181018-zabriskie-v-fannie-mae" target="_self">Zabriskie v. Fannie Mae</a> <a href="http://youtu.be/Cz_Hp0VIkYs">(Video)</a> (0:00) (9th Cir.): Won reversal for Fannie Mae of a Fair Credit Reporting Act judgment</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/161108-washington-university-v-wisconsin-alumni" target="_self">Washington University v. Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation</a> (0:42) (3d Cir.): Obtained reversal for Washington University in suit for royalties due under contract with WARF</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/191202-nevro-v-boston-scientific" target="_self">Nevro v. Boston Scientific</a> (00:10) (Fed. Cir.): Won reversal of district court judgment of invalidity for indefiniteness</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/180514-aviation-v-huerta" target="_self">National Business Aviation Assoc. v. Huerta</a> (28:34) (D.C. Cir.): Successfully defended the City of Santa Monica against a challenge to its settlement with the FAA about its municipal airport</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/200601-cr-bard-v-angiodynamics" target="_self">C.R. Bard v. Angiodynamics</a> (00:29) (Fed. Cir.): Won reversal of district court judgment of noninfringement, no willfulness, and invalidity, reviving client’s infringement case on three patents</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/190409-flores-v-ups" target="_self">Flores v. UPS & Pocino Foods v. UPS (Consolidated)</a> (<a href="http://youtu.be/eas0RAExOME" target="_blank">Video</a>) (13:43) (9th Cir.): Secured judgment for UPS on two putative RICO and breach-of-contract class actions about its Next Day Air services</li><li>Residential Capital v. Federal Housing Finance Agency (2d Cir.): Successfully obtained a remand in a case stemming from the ResCap bankruptcy</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/171005-basf-argument" target="_self">BASF v. Johnson Matthey</a> (0:17) (Fed. Cir.): Won reversal of an invalidity ruling against patentee BASF, reviving its patent claims</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/190419-holl-v-us-district-court" target="_self">Holl v. U.S. District Court</a> (<a href="https://youtu.be/ilT3hbMCTQ0" target="_blank">Video</a>) (13:32) (9th Cir.): Defeated a mandamus petition against UPS, successfully defending its arbitration provision containing a class-action waiver</li><li>Interactive Digital Software Association v. St. Louis County, Missouri (8th Cir.): Successfully argued a First Amendment challenge to an ordinance regulating video games</li><li>In Re: Tremont Securities Law (2d Cir.): Secured dismissal for a major accounting firm of a putative class action regarding a Madoff-related fund</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/141216-estate-of-graham-v-sothebys" target="_self">Estate of Graham v. Sotheby’s</a> (30:46) (9th Cir.) (en banc): Won invalidation under the Commerce Clause of parts of a California artist resale royalty law</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/111206-atm-fee-antitrust-litigation" target="_self">In re ATM Fee Antitrust Litigation</a> (17:20) (9th Cir.): Prevailed in a putative nationwide antitrust class action against one of the largest U.S. ATM networks</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/131205-augme-technologies-v-yahoo" target="_self">Augme Technologies v. Yahoo!</a> (21:49) (Fed. Cir.): Secured a noninfringement judgment for Yahoo! in a suit involving Internet display advertising</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/170830-lummi-nation-argument" target="_self">Lower Elwha Klallam Indian Tribe v. Lummi Nation</a> (<a href="http://youtu.be/OILs47RhSjM" target="_blank">Video</a>) (00:03) (9th Cir.): Won a reversal for the Lummi Nation, reclaiming its historic treaty rights</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/141201-warsaw-orthopedic-v-nuvasive" target="_self">Warsaw Orthopedic v. NuVasive</a> (17:44) (Fed. Cir.): Obtained vacatur of a jury’s $101 million patent damages award</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/150504-momenta-v-amphastar" target="_self">Momenta v. Amphastar</a> (02:55) (Fed. Cir.): Successfully argued for a patentee that conduct was unprotected by the Hatch-Waxman Act safe harbor</li><li><a href="/resources/video-audio/120605-neurovision-medical-products-v-nuvasive" target="_self">Neurovision Medical Products v. NuVasive</a> (00:00) (9th Cir.): Obtained vacatur of a jury’s $60 million trademark verdict</li></ul>

Deanne E. Maynard

Brian Nash serves as Practice Group Chair of Morrison Foerster’s global Intellectual Property Litigation Group, and Co-Chair of the firm’s cross-disciplinary Intellectual Property Group. With over 200 cases litigated in Texas alone, Brian brings a wealth of experience to high-stakes disputes in some of the nation’s most active intellectual property jurisdictions. His practice extends nationally, encompassing district courts, the PTAB, the ITC, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Brian has represented Fortune 50 clients in matters involving patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights.Brian’s recent work exemplifies his ability to deliver outstanding results for clients facing complex, high-value IP disputes. Among his notable achievements, he secured a complete summary judgment win in a case where the opposing party sought over $800 million in damages by attempting to capture royalties across an entire product ecosystem. In another matter, he obtained a highly favorable settlement in a 10-patent case, leveraging an aggressive early motion strategy to reach resolution. Brian has also advanced client interests as plaintiff’s counsel in a major competitor-v.-competitor case. He has delivered several dispositive wins that resolved major cases without any damages paid, further establishing his reputation as highly sought-after counsel for leading technology companies. Additionally, Brian recently won dismissal with prejudice in a case based on a motion to dismiss for patent invalidity under Section 101, underscoring his skill in legal writing and strategic advocacy.Brian’s technical acumen is grounded in his experience as a registered patent attorney and his engineering background. He is known for his ability to analyze and simplify complex technical issues, providing strategic counsel across a broad spectrum of technologies, including semiconductors, programmable logic devices, software, blockchain, e-commerce, digital media, video games, virtual reality, wireless standards, video streaming, aluminum alloy composition, container fabrication, hydrocarbon exploration, search marketing, geolocation, encryption, image processing, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, and liquid crystal displays. Clients value his analytical approach and his capacity to translate intricate technical concepts into effective legal strategies.Widely recognized as a leader in the Texas intellectual property community, Brian has played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s legal landscape. He founded the Honorable Lee Yeakel IP Inn of Court—the first IP-focused Inn of Court in Texas—and currently serves as its president. His commitment to professional service is further demonstrated through his roles as a board member and past president of the Austin Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and as a past president of the Austin Intellectual Property Law Association.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>Won a dispositive claim construction ruling that resulted in a dismissal following a Markman hearing before Judge Albright on behalf of a Fortune 50 semiconductor company on a patent related to field programmable gate arrays.</li><li>Won a final written decision holding all claims unpatentable and denying patent owner’s motion to amend in an inter partes review for a Fortune 50 semiconductor company on a patent related to field programmable gate arrays.</li><li>Representing Cimarex Energy Co. in defending against a multi-patent case involving e-fracking technologies.</li><li>Advising Anheuser-Busch in an instituted derivation proceeding related to aluminum alloy composition technology that is pending at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.</li></ul>

Brian Nash

Chair, IP Litigation Practice

Max Olson is a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property Group and Litigation Department. Max’s practice includes all aspects of dispute resolution, with special emphasis on patent litigation, international arbitration, trade secret litigation, sports litigation, and adversarial patent license negotiations. Max served as the chair of the Tokyo office Litigation Department from 2006 to 2013 and managing partner of the Los Angeles office from 2004 through 2006.Max led the firm’s litigation team on behalf of Fujitsu Semiconductor Ltd. (“FSL”) in obtaining an order from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California compelling arbitration of Cypress Semiconductor’s state court claims against FSL for alleged breach of contract, interference with contract, indemnity, and unfair competition in Tokyo, Japan, under the rules of the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (FSL v. Cypress Semiconductor Corp., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 97711 (N.D. Cal. June 5, 2023)).Max led the firm’s patent litigation teams on behalf of JOLED Inc. in the global enforcement of its OLED display patents against Samsung’s Galaxy phones through parallel litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (Case No. 6:20-cv-559) and the Japan Customs Office. Max also led the firm’s patent litigation teams defending infringement actions brought by Samsung Display and/or its affiliate, Intellectual Keystone Technology, against JOLED and its customers, including ASUSTeK Computer Inc. and ASUS Computer Int’l, in ITC Investigation No. 337-TA-1257 (In re Certain Organic Light Emitting Diode Displays, Components Thereof, and Products Containing Same) and in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (Case Nos. 6:21-cv-00017 and 6:21‑cv‑00053).Max led the firm’s litigation and arbitration teams on behalf of FSL in a global dispute with Cypress Semiconductor over the intellectual property rights in and ownership of thousands of photomasks used in the manufacture of semiconductors. Max defeated Cypress’s motion for injunctive relief in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in a significant victory for FSL (Cypress Semiconductor Corp. v. FSL, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32907 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 25, 2020)) and filed counterclaims against Cypress in an arbitration before the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association.Max led the firm’s litigation team on behalf of Mitsui Chemicals in trade secret litigation involving irrigation systems in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and won a motion to dismiss the unfair trade practices, unfair competition, fraud, and conspiracy claims brought against Mitsui Chemicals (Developmental Techs. LLC v. Mitsui Chems., Inc., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64630 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 15, 2019)).Max represented U.S. Olympic gymnast Paul Hamm before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (“CAS”) in Switzerland, the world’s highest court for resolving sports disputes, in the highly publicized dispute over the gold medal in the men’s individual all-around event in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. A panel of three CAS arbitrators rejected the appeal filed by the bronze medalist, Korean gymnast Yang Tae‑Young, and held unanimously that Mr. Hamm should keep his gold medal. Max also led the firm’s arbitration team on behalf of a mixed martial arts fighter and obtained an award from the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association releasing the fighter from an unfavorable contract with his promoter.Max has also represented Fujitsu, FSL, Socionext, Konica Minolta, TDK, Yamaha, Micron Memory Japan, Advantest, Sega, Buffalo, and other major corporations in various adversarial patent license negotiations against some of the world’s largest patent holders.Max is a longtime member of The Tokyo IP American Inn of Court and served as its President from 2021 through 2023. He is also a registered gaikokuho-jimu-bengoshi and a member of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association, the Litigation Section and Intellectual Property Law Section of the American Bar Association, and the American Intellectual Property Law Association.Max is widely recognized as one of Japan’s leading lawyers by many of the world’s foremost independent legal directories, including Chambers Global, Chambers Asia-Pacific, The Legal 500, IAM Patent 1000, The Best Lawyers in Japan, Managing Intellectual Property, Benchmark Litigation: Asia-Pacific, Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal), and IAM Global Leaders. Clients describe Max as “a visionary legal practitioner and scholar who represents the best in his field in the Tokyo and Japan markets for dispute resolution and IP-related matters.”Max received his M.A. and B.A. magna cum laude from Harvard University and his J.D. cum laude from the University of Michigan.

Max Olson

Catherine Polizzi, known as a pioneer in Patent Prosecution + Strategy law, is a deeply experienced lawyer who is highly regarded by clients and competitors alike. Her intellectual versatility combined with incisive, pragmatic counseling and business acumen is the hallmark of her practice. Catherine has the unique experience of working with both startups and emerging companies as well as well‑known, established global companies through the challenging process of obtaining patents and provides strategic, effective portfolio counseling and management, as well as strategic advice surrounding freedom of operation and other forms of IP assessment. She develops valuable, strategic portfolios around breakthrough therapies in a variety of areas, including cancer, cancer immunotherapy, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.She also has significant experience in a wide spectrum of technology areas, including biologics such as antibodies and polypeptides; nucleic acids; precision medicine including precision oncology; diagnostics; cell therapy including T cell and NK cell technologies, such as chimeric antigen receptors; drug formulation technologies; drug delivery technologies such as nanotechnologies; therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines; microfluidics; drug screening systems; AI solutions for life sciences including drug discovery and development platforms; polynucleotide therapeutics such as siRNA; amplification and detection technologies; genetic screening; sequencing technologies including next-generation sequencing; regenerative medicine; spectroscopy; surgical imaging technologies; and organic chemistry including small molecule drugs.Catherine’s unique background, ability to integrate IP with a given business model to translate into meaningful valuation, risk assessment and advice, and highly effective communication skills in critical settings, such as R&D, all phases of product development, and investment contexts, enable her to provide effective, creative solutions to the significant challenges often faced by clients. Catherine is an acquisition and value enhancement driver as well, a critical conduit for companies as they grow from startup through IPO, exit, and beyond.IP Leadership for Transactions, Financings, and Acquisitions. Catherine’s practice also includes due diligence evaluation and counseling in the context of venture investment assessments and in connection with public and private financing, spin‑offs, partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions, where her IP strategies have helped drive the value of multibillion-dollar deals.Strategist in Legal Challenges and a Key Member of Litigation Teams. In addition to helping create value and commercialize her clients’ technologies, Catherine devises strategies and defenses to fortify their patents in the event of legal challenges by competitors. She renders advice on all aspects of patent positioning, including opinions on patentability, validity, freedom of operation, infringement, and competitor IP evaluation. She also works in the area of third-party challenges, such as inter partes review (IPR) and oppositions.A Recognized Leader. Catherine formerly served as the chair of the firm’s Patent Prosecution & Counseling Group and co-chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Group. Chambers USA noted that Catherine “maintains a strong reputation for her capabilities advising biotechnology clients on portfolio management and other IP matters,” while clients note that she is “a great strategic thinker, great at flagging the high-level questions and brings a good business perspective” and praise her for “bring[ing] a good business perspective to IP efforts which is not always evident with other IP attorneys.” Catherine has also received many awards and accolades throughout her career, including the following:<ul><li>Ranked in four different Chambers categories for IP and Life Sciences 2011–2025</li><li>Recognized as a Hall of Fame lawyer by LMG Life Sciences for Patent Prosecution and Patent Strategy & Management since 2018</li><li>Recognized as Patent Star by Managing IP for 2025</li><li>Recommended as a leading lawyer by The Legal 500 U.S. for 2012–2024</li><li>Recognized among World’s Leading Patent Practitioners by IAM Patent 1000 for 2014–2024</li><li>Recognized as a Best Lawyer in Biotechnology and Life Sciences by Best Lawyers for 2023 and 2024</li><li>Selected as one of the Top 100 Intellectual Property Lawyers in California by The Daily Journal for 2009–2022</li></ul><h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>Genentech, the world’s first and most successful biotechnology company, has relied on Catherine’s strategic patent counseling and prosecution services for its most difficult and challenging patent matters for nearly 15 years. Her work involves developing overall patent strategy, patent application drafting, and prosecution for key technologies. Her high-value work for Genentech also includes strategic assessment of key and novel technologies, as well as patent litigation support and advisement.</li><li>10x Genomics, a biotechnology company developing forefront gene sequencing technology used in scientific research, turns to Catherine to serve as lead patent counsel related to in situ and spatial assay platforms for cellular and subcellular identification of cell and biomarker diversity in tissues, including gene expression, gene sequencing, RNA profiling, and related reagents, panels, hardware, and software analysis tools.</li><li>Codexis, a biotechnology company that specializes in enzyme engineering, focusing on improving sustainability and cost-efficiency of manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry, including in the manufacture of oligonucleotides and small molecule drugs, relies on Catherine for developing Codexis’s complex IP strategy. She has provided critical advice in management of their intellectual property portfolio, including strategic consideration of patent application filings, and patent risks to their planned commercial operations, including freedom to operate.</li><li>Juno Therapeutics has relied on Catherine for patent strategy and prosecution from its very beginning. Juno is one of the best-funded startups in biotechnology history. It went on to become a publicly traded company in 2014 and ultimately was acquired by Celgene in 2018 for $9 billion; the strength of the patent portfolio that Catherine crafted helped drive the valuation for the deal. She led the IP team on the acquisition.</li><li>Celgene calls on Catherine for its patent strategy, drafting, and IP due diligence matters. She worked with Abraxis BioScience for many years in a similar capacity to help develop their IP position for the highly successful cancer drug, Abraxane. Catherine then counseled the company through its $2.9 billion acquisition by Celgene Corporation, including providing significant IP strategy and due diligence counseling. This IP platform was a major component of the valuation of the company.</li><li>Dewpoint Therapeutics engaged Catherine to lead its patent strategy from the very beginning. Dewpoint is on the cutting edge of drug discovery, with technology relating to condensate biology, a new and paradigm‑shift area of drug development. Catherine led the IP strategy and due diligence for its partnership with Bayer to research new treatments for cardiovascular and gynecological diseases. The work that Dewpoint is doing is seen as a significant move forward in the biopharma industry and opens the door to many potential new discoveries in biology through biomolecular condensates. For example, in January 2021, Dewpoint teamed up with Pfizer to develop new treatments for a rare kind of muscular dystrophy. In July 2020, Dewpoint announced its collaboration with Merck to evaluate a novel approach for the treatment of HIV.</li><li>Frontier Medicines, a clinical-stage precision medicine company advancing treatments for genetically defined patient populations in oncology and immunology, has entrusted all aspects of patent strategy and portfolio development for its pipeline of small molecule therapeutics to Catherine.</li><li>Insitro, a multibillion-dollar startup pharmaceutical drug company, turned to Catherine to develop its global IP strategy. The company is at the forefront of advancing AI and data-driven drug discovery and development, and trusted Catherine to manage the company’s portfolio.</li><li>Sonoma Biotherapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is developing cell therapies that use engineered regulatory T cell therapies to treat serious autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, called on Catherine to direct its patent strategy and development.</li><li>Additional representative clients include clinical-stage and startup companies, such Aimmune Therapeutics, Alpine Immune Sciences, Botanical Solution, Cartography Biosciences, CohBar, Corner Therapeutics, Cytokinetics, Dynavax Technologies, Enveda Therapeutics, Frazier Life Sciences, GOA Therapeutics, Immunome, Indapta Therapeutics, Larkspur Biosciences, Lyndra Therapeutics, Maze Therapeutics, Myst Therapeutics, Nanoprobes, Ollin Biosciences, Passkey Therapeutics, Prelude Therapeutics, Sana Biotechnology, Sangamo Therapeutics, Seagen (formerly Seattle Genetics), Sirenas, Syntis Bio, Tacit Therapeutics, TARIS Biomedical, The Immune Co., Turnstone Biologics, and Volastra Therapeutics.</li></ul><h5>Aided by Catherine’s leadership and guidance developing IP protection for high-value technology, the following companies were involved in the following high-value transactions:</h5><ul><li>The $4.9 billion cash acquisition of client Alpine Immune Science by Vertex Pharmaceuticals.</li><li>Alpine Immune Sciences’ $48 million Series A financing and subsequent $90 million merger with Nivalis Therapeutics, resulting in a publicly traded company, as well as Alpine Immune Sciences’ $91 million private placement.</li><li>The $2.6 billion acquisition of client Aimmune Therapeutics by Nestlé Health Science.</li><li>The $74 billion acquisition of Celgene Corporation by Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS).</li><li>The $1.1 billion development collaboration with BMS on behalf of Volastra Therapeutics, which was recognized as one of the most promising early-stage biotechnology companies in the industry by Fierce Biotech’s 2022 Fierce 15, to discover, develop, and commercialize new oncology medicines.</li><li>Celgene Corporation’s $9 billion acquisition of client Juno Therapeutics and earlier $2.9 billion acquisition of client Abraxis BioScience.</li><li>Dewpoint Therapeutics’ $239 million collaboration with Pfizer for the development of new treatments for a rare kind of muscular dystrophy, the $305 million collaboration with Merck on a novel approach for the treatment of HIV, and the up-to-$100 million partnership with Bayer to research new treatments for cardiovascular and gynecological diseases.</li><li>Dewpoint Therapeutics’ partnership with Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, with a deal value up to $480 million and $150 million Series C financing, $77 million Series B financing, and $60 million Series A financing.</li><li>Enveda Therapeutics Inc.’s $130 million raised in Series C financing.</li><li>Frontier Medicines’ $55 million collaboration with AbbVie to develop molecules against hard-to-drug targets.</li><li>Frontier Medicines’ $80 million Series C financing, $88.5 million Series B financing, and Series A Preferred Stock financing of $67 million.</li><li>Indapta Therapeutics’ $22.5 million financing to advance clinical trials of innovative cancer and autoimmune treatments and $50 million Series A financing.</li><li>Johnson & Johnson’s acquisition of TARIS Biomedical, with a focus on transforming the treatment of bladder cancer.</li><li>Lyndra Therapeutics’ $60.5 million Series C financing and $55 million Series B financing.</li><li>Myriad Genetics’ $375 million acquisition of Counsyl, Inc.</li><li>Syntis Bio’s $33 million Series A financing.</li><li>Sonoma Biotherapeutics’ collaboration with Regeneron worth over $100 million.</li><li>The $14 billion acquisition of client Medivation by Pfizer, as well as the previous $225 million Pfizer investment in Medivation.</li><li>The $43 billion acquisition of client Seagen by Pfizer.</li><li>Turnstone Biologics’ acquisition of Myst Therapeutics.</li></ul>

Catherine Polizzi

Shannon Reaney, Ph.D., is a seasoned patent attorney with over 20 years of experience specializing in life sciences intellectual property law. As chair of the firm’s 100+ person Patent Strategy + Prosecution practice and co-chair of the cross-disciplinary Intellectual Property Group, Shannon provides strategic patent counsel to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, cosmetics, and agricultural companies worldwide. She excels in patent portfolio development, prosecution, and management, helping innovators protect and maximize the value of their intellectual property assets.Shannon’s advanced scientific training and extensive legal experience enable her to deliver comprehensive patent strategy and prosecution services across a broad spectrum of life sciences technologies, including:<ul><li>Pre-clinical and clinical-stage therapeutics, including small molecules, siRNA, peptide therapeutics, conjugates, blood-based therapies, and related diagnostics, pharmaceutical formulations, and methods of use.</li><li>Nanotechnology.</li><li>Skin care technology and topical formulations.</li><li>Agricultural technologies.</li></ul>In addition to her extensive experience in patent strategy and prosecution, Shannon is highly regarded for her work in:<ul><li>Patent term extensions & lifecycle management for approved drugs and biologics.</li><li>IP risk mitigation, pre-litigation portfolio assessments, and competitor IP evaluation.</li><li>Due diligence and strategic counseling for business transactions including financings and M&A.</li></ul>Shannon received her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where her doctoral research concentrated on synthetic organic methodology and the use of lithium aminoborohydrides in novel hydride and amine transfer reactions. She received her B.A. in biochemistry from Occidental College, where she conducted undergraduate research investigating psoralen-DNA intercalation.Shannon has authored several first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals and presented her research at major conferences, including those sponsored by the American Chemical Society and the IUPAC World Chemistry Congress.

Shannon Reaney

Mr. Schwartz concentrates his practice on the representation of companies in business transactions and counseling involving intellectual property and technology, including licensing, development agreements, distribution and commercialization activities, joint ventures, outsourcing, and other services arrangements. He was the founding co-head of Morrison & Foerster’s Intellectual Property Group and has served as the firm’s managing partner.Mr. Schwartz is particularly active on transactional and counseling matters relating to computers (including hardware and both open source and proprietary software), communications equipment (including smartphones and other wireless communications devices, internet television, satellites, and other communications infrastructure), semiconductors and other electronic devices, electronic commerce, and other advanced information technology. He has represented clients such as Accenture, Altera, Autodesk, Mozilla, Netflix, Palo Alto Networks, Panasonic, Red Hat, Softbank, Sprint Nextel, Visa, Whirlpool, VMware, and Yahoo, among others.Mr. Schwartz is a frequent presenter on information technology and intellectual property issues. For example, he has lectured in the MBA program at Oxford University, and was a visiting fellow of Oxford’s Centre for Socio-Legal Studies. He also served as an adjunct instructor at Stanford Law School and lectured at the University of California (Boalt Hall) School of Law, University of Southern California Computer Law Institute, Licensing Executives Society, and American Intellectual Property Law Association.Mr. Schwartz received his B.A. degree, with high honors, from Amherst College in 1976. He studied Japanese language and history from 1976 to 1977 at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan, and then worked in Tokyo and Hong Kong as a reporter and editor for the Asian edition of The Wall Street Journal from 1977 to 1980. He received his J.D. degree, with honors, in 1983 from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was an editor of The University of Chicago Law Review. Following law school, he served as a law clerk to Judge John D. Butzner, Jr., United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He joined Morrison & Foerster in 1984 and became a partner of the firm in 1990.Representative Matters<div id="scoped-content"><ul><li>Autodesk in the technology and intellectual property aspects of various transactions.</li><li>Dexcom, a San Diego-based medical device manufacturer that markets a continuous glucose monitoring device for use by people with diabetes, in a patent licensing agreement with Abbott.</li><li>SoftBank on intellectual property aspects of its $1 billion investment in OneWeb for low Earth orbit satellites to provide global broadband access.</li><li>Palo Alto Networks in its patent cross-license with Juniper Networks relating to (among other things) network security technology. </li><li>Panasonic in its disputes and settlements with Qualcomm regarding patents relating to mobile communications equipment. </li><li>Qwest in a variety of intellectual property and information technology matters, including the intellectual property and technology aspects of Qwest’s sale of its Dex directory publishing business in a $7.05 billion leveraged buyout, Qwest’s agreements with IBM and Hewlett-Packard for the establishment and outsourcing of Internet services facilities, and Qwest’s strategic relationship with BellSouth. </li><li>Red Hat in its agreement with Microsoft for offering Red Hat Enterprise Linux on Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing infrastructure.</li><li>Sprint Nextel in its agreements with Qualcomm and other companies in connection with the development, licensing and deployment of technology for the next generation of Sprint Nextel’s wireless telecommunications services. </li><li>SUSE (formerly Novell) in the formation of Open Invention Network, a company formed by SUSE, IBM, Philips, Red Hat, Sony, NEC and Google to promote the Linux operating system by using an innovative model for patents and in SUSE’s dispute with The SCO Group concerning Unix-related copyrights. </li><li>Visa in its agreement with a major investment bank to establish a customized payments platform to provide differentiated experiences for merchants and cardholders.</li><li>VMware and its AirWatch subsidiary in a patent license agreement with Good Technology relating to mobile device management (MDM). </li><li>Yahoo and SoftBank, the largest shareholders of Alibaba Group (the leading PRC-based online and mobile commerce company), in the intellectual property aspects of the carve-out and restructuring of Alipay and Alibaba’s other financial services businesses.</li></ul></div>

William Schwartz

Senior Of Counsel

Stephanie is a trusted advisor to companies with respect to technology and life sciences transactions, related IP counseling, and responsible tech and AI governance practices.Stephanie represents both private and public companies, from emerging growth through the Fortune 50. For over 25 years, her practice has focused on helping companies that leverage data through technology.Stephanie serves on the Responsible AI Venture Council, part of the recently launched Lucas Institute for Venture Ethics at Santa Clara University’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics and currently serves as an advisor to certain research projects of the Institute. Stephanie is also a member of the firm’s global Sustainability + Corporate Responsibility and FinTech steering committees.In addition to publishing on a variety of legal topics related to AI, since 2016, Stephanie has taught as a guest lecturer on data licensing and other IP-related topics in Cornell Law School’s Technology and Entrepreneurship LLM program at CornellTech and has served as a guest lecturer at Cornell Law School.

Stephanie Lynn Sharron

Ragesh Tangri brings diverse experience representing clients ranging from individuals to Fortune 100 companies in high-stakes intellectual property and trade secret disputes, in addition to commercial litigation and legal malpractice, in jurisdictions across the country. Ragesh regularly represents major technology companies, law firms, and individuals in their most significant disputes.Ragesh has litigated matters involving high-stakes breach of contract and tort claims, as well as legal malpractice and professional negligence claims arising from work done in a variety of underlying areas, including intellectual property litigation, patent prosecution, general corporate matters, and tax. He has, during several pleadings motions, obtained complete dismissal of all claims asserted against law firm clients.Ragesh also has substantial experience with intellectual property litigation, including representing Palo Alto Networks in trade secret and patent litigation, Uber in trade secret litigation, Intel in inventorship litigation, Google in a hotly contested trade secret action brought by Microsoft, and helping secure a $180M award for Cadence Design Systems in its long-running dispute with Avant! Corporation.Ragesh has earned consistent recognition as a top practitioner in California and across the United States. Among his numerous awards, Chambers recently highlighted his “excellent” skill “in handling a range of contentious IP proceedings” in its guide for trademark, copyright, and trade secret litigation, and clients have called him “incredibly diligent and smart.” Ragesh has also been repeatedly ranked by publications including Best Lawyers and IAM Patent 1000.Ragesh serves on the Boards of the Northern District Historical Society (president), the California Law Review, and the Shotgun Players. He is a past president of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers and the Edward J. McFetridge Inn of Court, a former member of the Board of Governors of the Bar Association of San Francisco, a former member of the Board of Governors of the Justice and Diversity Center, a former member and co‑chair of the Lawyer Representatives of the Northern District of California to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, a former member and chair of BASF’s Judiciary Committee, and a former member of the Board of Directors of Slow Food Nation. He has taught the Introduction to Civil Procedure and Law on Lawyering courses at Berkeley Law School and spoken frequently on issues, including trade secret law, professional negligence, ethics, claim construction, and the differences between the U.S. and Canadian legal systems.Ragesh earned his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. He clerked for the Hon. A. Raymond Randolph on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In 2009, Ragesh co‑founded Durie Tangri, a premier litigation boutique firm acquired by Morrison Foerster in 2022.

Ragesh Tangri

Michael (Mike) Ward is co-chair of the firm's Life Sciences + Healthcare Group and Food + Agriculture Group.Life SciencesFor his work across the life sciences sector, Mike was named San Francisco Biotechnology Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America in 2020 and is recommended for his patent strategy and prosecution practice in LMG Life Sciences. He also led the team that was named 2022 Patent Management and Strategy Firm of the Year at the 2022 LMG Life Sciences Americas Awards.Food + AgricultureRecognized as “one of the world’s foremost plant and agriculture IP lawyers,” Mike manages a wide range of intellectual property issues related to plants and plant products. He and his team advise clients on plant and plant utility patents; licensing agreements for plant IP; litigation in U.S. state and federal court and before the International Trade Commission; and regulatory approvals from the USDA, FDA, and EPA for gene edited and genetically engineered plants.Patent Strategy + ProsecutionMike is a Legal 500 US Hall of Fame lawyer for patent prosecution and is consistently named one of the leading IP lawyers by Managing Intellectual Property, Chambers USA and Chambers Global, and IAM Patent 1000.Mike works closely with many clients to develop and manage their patent portfolios. He helps clients identify, monitor, and assess the infringement risks of third-party patents. He also assists clients in preparing both offensive and defensive patent portfolios, with a particular emphasis on drafting patent applications that will be utilized in licensing and in litigation efforts.IP Due DiligenceFor venture capitalists seeking to invest in early- and mid-stage companies, underwriters involved in IPOs, and companies seeking to acquire or merge with other companies, Mike has managed extensive IP diligence. His work includes assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of patent portfolios, evaluation of freedom to operate issues, and strategic recommendations for maximizing the value of patent portfolios going forward.Mike also works closely with the IP Litigation Group on various litigation matters including patent interferences to determine the first-to-invent and patent re-examination work and actively participates in both mediation and arbitration proceedings on behalf of clients in the life sciences and food and agriculture areas.He is a frequent lecturer and speaker. Among numerous speaking engagements, Mike is the IP instructor at the UC Davis Licensing Academy and founded Morrison Foerster’s annual Harvard Biotechnology Club Fall Patent Law Course.Mike holds a Ph.D. in plant physiology (biochemistry) and an M.S. in agronomy from the University of California, Davis; a B.S. in biology from the University of California, Berkeley; and a J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law. He was a post-doctoral fellow in plant molecular biology at the Harvard Medical School and the Department of Molecular Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he worked on the Arabidopsis genome project.

Michael Ward

Chie Yakura is a partner in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster Law Offices. She represents both non-Japanese and Japanese corporations in a wide range of complex litigation matters with an emphasis on intellectual property, technology transactions and trade secrets, antitrust/competition law, as well as cross-border contractual and commercial disputes and product liability matters. Chie also focuses on anti-corruption and compliance matters and conducts internal investigations. She has handled cases in a variety of industries, including software, hardware, consumer electronics, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, transportation, real estate and manufacturing.Chie received her LL.B. from Kyoto University and graduated from the Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan (53rd Trainee). Chie also received an LL.M. from Columbia Law School and an LL.M. in international business law from the University of London, London School of Economics and Political Science.Chie is a bengoshi, admitted to practice in Japan. She is also a benrishi (patent attorney) in Japan and admitted in New York.Chie is a member of the Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association, the Japan Patent Attorneys Association and the American Bar Association.

Chie Yakura

Ruth Arkley is Of Counsel based in the London office of Morrison Foerster and is a member of the Intellectual Property Group.Ruth practices in intellectual property, technology and commercial law, with a focus on innovative technologies and data protection. She advises clients on transactional, contentious and regulatory matters across a range of industries including life sciences, technology, retail, luxury brands and the creative sectors. Ruth’s experience includes advising in respect of the protection and enforcement of all major IP rights including copyright, trade marks and passing off, designs, patents, confidential information and domain names. She also helps clients to develop IP portfolios and to monetise their rights by way of strategic licensing.Ruth is listed in the Legal 500 as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for Intellectual Property: Trade Marks, Copyright and Design, and as a ‘Notable Practitioner’ in Managing IP’s IP Stars. She teaches on the ‘IP Transactions: Law and Practice’ course at University College London. Ruth studied Law at Clare College, University of Cambridge and was awarded a Diploma in Intellectual Property Law from the University of Oxford. Before joining Morrison Foerster, Ruth was a partner at Brown Rudnick. She trained at Latham & Watkins.Ruth is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>Advising World-Leading COVID Rapid Test Provider Excalibur Healthcare Services on a ground-breaking Licence and Development Agreement with Sensyne Health in respect of the use of Excalibur’s lateral flow diagnostic tests with Sensyne Health’s clinical AI software, ‘MagnifEye’.</li><li>Acting for an international drug development company on a High Court breach of confidence action against an employee.</li><li>Novaerus Patents Limited v Quest International (UK) Limited [2016] EWHC 95 (Ch): Represented medical technology provider Novaerus Patents Limited in a complex contractual dispute about the sale of various patents and subsequent cross-licensing.</li><li>Acting for a software development company on a High Court Technology & Construction Court dispute with a global retail bank.</li><li>Acting for an electrical wholesaler on a passing off action against a listed building merchant’s business.</li><li>Leading a European cookie audit and compliance project for a FTSE 100 consumer goods company, coordinating legal and technical teams over 15 jurisdictions.</li><li>Supporting a NYSE-listed biopharmaceutical company in complying with U.K. and European consumer protection and advertising law.</li><li>Regularly drafting and advising on the terms and conditions, privacy policies and end user licence agreements for websites and apps.</li></ul>

Ruth Arkley

Of Counsel

Lily Li is a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property practice and Head of Litigation in the Palo Alto office. She represents technology companies in high-stakes patent, trade secret, copyright, trademark, and licensing disputes, as well as complex commercial matters. With an engineering background, published research in artificial intelligence, and prior in-house semiconductor leadership experience, Lily brings technical fluency and seasoned judgment to complex disputes and has led and tried bet-the-company cases. Her practice spans state and federal courts, the International Trade Commission, arbitration tribunals, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and cross-border proceedings. She has experience in technologies including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, software and hardware systems, autonomous driving, aviation, wireless communications, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals.Before entering private practice, Lily served in an in-house leadership role at a semiconductor company, leading patent prosecution, licensing strategy, and global intellectual property portfolio development.She maintains an active pro bono practice focused on human rights and educational equity. She helped lead the team in Cayla J. v. State of California, which secured a historic $2 billion settlement addressing pandemic-related learning loss.Lily earned her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and conducted graduate research in artificial intelligence, publishing in IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks. She is admitted to practice in California, before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.