Introduction
My focus
My experience includes counseling clients on IP strategy, litigation, transactions, and portfolio management in a wide range of industries and technological areas, including drones and autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, privacy and data security, mobile devices and applications, Internet and digital media, e-commerce and financial services, semiconductors and computer hardware components, software, and medical devices. In addition to advising clients on intellectual property issues, I have also served as outside product and general counsel for clients, handling the wide variety of legal challenges faced in the day-to-day operation of small, fast-growing companies.
Over the course of my career, I have represented some of Silicon Valley’s most prominent technology companies in intellectual property disputes in district courts, on appeal, and in front of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
In addition to my litigation practice, I advise clients on strategic and business issues related to intellectual property, including portfolio management, valuation, and licensing.
Representative experience
- Represented an American multinational technology company in a patent infringement litigation related to camera lens design for mobile devices, obtaining a favorable settlement for our client after effectively countering plaintiff’s entire damages case.
- Advised aviation software client on regulatory, transactional, and intellectual property strategy while serving as outside general counsel.
- Represented a cloud-based monitoring and control system for remotely managing lighting, digital displays, and other digital assets in a patent infringement matter related to automated outdoor lighting systems. Obtained favorable settlement before trial.
- Represented leading supplier of digital advertising in a patent infringement action. Obtained venue transfer to home district, leading to favorable settlement.
- Represented a major telecom company in a multi-defendant patent infringement suit brought by non-practicing entity involving delivery of video-on-demand content over the Internet. Obtained summary judgment opinion invalidating all asserted claims as unpatentable abstract ideas.
- Represented a leading producer of placental tissue grafts in a pending patent infringement suit involving graft manufacturing and tissue processing techniques.
- Represented a prominent Mountain View Internet company in major patent infringement suit involving embedded interactive Web content. Obtained trial verdict invalidating all asserted claims.
- Represented a major pharmaceutical company in a patent infringement action related to formulating a recombinant gene therapy drug. Obtained favorable settlement for client.
- Represented prominent Mountain View Internet in patent infringement suit related to geolocation services, winning summary judgment of non-infringement of all asserted claims.
- Represented Defendant an International SAS company in multi-defendant patent infringement suit brought by patent assertion entity involving optical network switching technology, as well as trade secret misappropriation and breach of contract counterclaims.
- Represented, an American multinational technology, company in patent infringement suit involving embedded web server technology.
- Represented a mobile social gaming studio in patent infringement suit brought by patent assertion entity involving in-game transactions in mobile applications. Helped negotiate favorable settlement agreement.
- Represented Defendants in a major patent infringement litigation involving blood glucose monitoring products and electrochemistry. Obtained complete victory at trial—including award of attorneys’ fees—that was affirmed on appeal.
- Represented a manufacturer of advanced critical care blood gas analyzers, testing meters, and other in-vitro diagnostic equipment in a patent infringement litigation involving blood glucose monitoring technology. Obtained victory for client at trial.
- Represented an American-German dating company in patent infringement action involving targeted advertisements in Web environments.
- Represented a major appliance and consumer electronics company in patent infringement suit involving computer disk drive technology.
- Represented a pharmaceutical company in patent infringement suit involving recombinant DNA used in Factor VIII blood protein replacement therapy.
- Represented a manufacturer of advanced critical care blood gas analyzers, testing meters, and other in-vitro diagnostic equipment in trade secret misappropriation and breach of contract action related to the design and manufacture of blood glucose monitors, resulting in winning jury verdicts on all claims at trial.
- Represented two medical manufactures in patent infringement suit related to blood glucose monitor technology and test strip design and biochemistry. Invalidity and/or non-infringement of all asserted patent claims found at jury trial and affirmed on appeal.
- Represented an American electronics and technology company in a patent infringement action related to electrochromic automotive mirror technology. Obtained judgment of invalidity, unenforceability, and non-infringement of all asserted claims at trial.
- Represented a plaintiff in California prison pro bono in First Amendment prisoners’ rights action related to petitions to redress grievances without fear of reprisal.
Looking ahead
The best representation takes into account not only your current needs but also anticipates and plans for your future ones. Careful attention to intellectual property issues early on can help avoid expensive challenges in the future.
In the news
- Law360
IP trio joins Nixon Peabody in California
July 10, 2024The following article features the NP arrivals of San Francisco partners Sasha Rao and Brandon Stroy, and Los Angeles partner Ashe Puri, all of the Intellectual Property practice. Sasha is quoted in the coverage, discussing what attracted the team to NP. Los Angeles partner Seth Levy, leader of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice, is also quoted, discussing factors and market conditions that are helping to drive the continued expansion of NP’s IP practice.
- Bloomberg Law
Nixon Peabody expands IP practice with three California partners
July 10, 2024The following article features the NP arrivals of San Francisco partners Sasha Rao and Brandon Stroy, and Los Angeles partner Ashe Puri, all of the Intellectual Property practice. Sasha is quoted in the coverage, discussing what attracted the team to NP. Los Angeles partner Seth Levy, leader of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice, is also quoted, discussing factors and market conditions that are helping to drive the continued expansion of NP’s IP practice.
Admitted to practice
California
New York
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
US District Court, Western District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
Education
Columbia University School of Law, J.D.
Duke University, M.EM., Engineering Management
Duke University, B.SE., Electrical and Biomedical Engineering
Professional activities
- San Francisco Bay Area Inn of Court
- Bar Association of San Francisco
- American Bar Association
Recognition
- Super Lawyers, “Northern California Rising Star,” – Intellectual Property and Intellectual Property Litigation (2016 and 2017)
Languages
French
Insights And Happenings
View AllProfessionals in the Practice Area
View AllSeth D. Levy
Partner / Leader, Intellectual Property Practice- Los Angeles
- Office:+1 213.629.6161
- slevy@nixonpeabody.com
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Daniel J. Schwartz
Partner / Deputy Leader, Intellectual Property Practice- Chicago
- Office:+1 312.977.4432
- djschwartz@nixonpeabody.com
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Erica J. Van Loon
Partner / Team Leader, Copyright, Trademark, and Media Litigation- Los Angeles
- Office:+1 213.629.6031
- evanloon@nixonpeabody.com
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Janet M. Garetto
Partner / Co-Lead, Food, Beverage, & Agribusiness IP Team- Chicago
- Office:+1 312.425.8514
- jgaretto@nixonpeabody.com
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