Denise M. Mingrone

Denise Mingrone, a partner in the Silicon Valley office, is a member of the Intellectual Property Group. Her practice focuses on patent and trade secrets complex litigation, including all phases of discovery, pretrial, and both jury and bench trial work. Ms. Mingrone also represents clients before the International Trade Commission (ITC) in Section 337 proceedings.

As a former clerk to United States District Court Judges Ronald M. Whyte and James Ware, as well as to Magistrate Judge Richard Seeborg, Ms. Mingrone brings a thorough knowledge of the federal court system to her litigation practice.

In addition to her individual clerkships, Ms. Mingrone served as a judicial staff death penalty clerk under former Chief Judge Marilyn H. Patel.  In that capacity, she worked with several federal judges in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose.  Ms. Mingrone also was appointed to the Death Penalty Work Measurement Group, a task force responsible for the creation of a national work standard for capital case attorneys.

A selection of Ms. Mingrone's work includes the following.

• Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. and Siliconware USA, Inc. Ms. Mingrone's litigation team successfully defended these respondents in patent litigation before the ITC, resulting in the withdrawal by Tessera Inc. of its complaint concerning Tessera’s semiconductor chip packaging technology.
• Acer, Inc., Nanya Technology Corporation and Powerchip Semiconductor Corporation. Ms. Mingrone served on the winning litigation team, defeating Tessera on behalf of these respondents in patent litigation before the ITC concerning Tessera’s packaging patents.
• Applied Materials, Inc.  Applied Materials, Inc. v. SES.  Ms. Mingrone was part of the team that obtained a preliminary injunction in Arizona state court on behalf of Applied Materials, Inc. The injunction prevented misappropriation of Applied's intellectual property and continues to protect its trade secrets.
• Genentech.  Johnson & Johnson v. Genentech.  Ms. Mingrone was part of an Orrick team that succeeded on its motion to dismiss the complaint filed against Genentech, ultimately leading to a non-monetary settlement and dismissal of the case.

Ms. Mingrone is the chair of the Steering Committee for San Jose Law Day, an annual program for school-age children, introducing them to the legal system. She also chairs Orrick’s “Successful Women in Intellectual Property” group, dedicated to providing open forums for women in this field to discuss practical and legal methods for success.

Ms. Mingrone also has chaired Orrick’s Summer Associate program since 2007.

Admitted in

• California

Court Admissions

• Ninth Circuit

• Northern District of California

Memberships

• State Bar of California
• William A. Ingram Inns of Court
• Saratoga Rotary Inner Wheel

Multimedia

Publications

• “Federal Court Boot Camp: Law Clerks Teach the Do’s and Don’t,” Pincus Professional Education, April 2009.
• "How to Practice in Federal Court: Career Law Clerks Teach the Nuts & Bolts of Federal Practice," Pincus Professional Education, March 2007.
• "Stopping the Disclosure and Misuse of Trade Secrets by Departing Employees" co-author, World Computer and Internet Law Congress and Annual Meeting, May 2006.

Speeches & Programs

• “Successful Women in Intellectual Property Forums,” February 2008 and April 24, 2009.
• San Jose Law Day, 2002-present.
• "The Nuts and Bolts of Federal Practice," Moderator, March 15, 2007.
• "Arbitration and Mediation in State and Federal Courts," March 9, 2007.