Managing Associate
Santa Monica
Ernie drives results by integrating his broad experience into his practice that is focused on complex patent litigation for technology and pharmaceutical companies of all sizes.
Ernie is a valued member of the firm’s Intellectual Property Group. With broad experience in patent litigation, he leverages a unique blend of scientific knowledge and legal acumen to guide clients through complex IP disputes. Ernie has experience litigating patents at various stages, including the investigatory, pre-suit phase, discovery, expert discovery, and up to trial or arbitration. His experience in technology includes ranges from pharmaceuticals, tissue grafts, and gene editing technology to video encoders, automotive head units, and digital mapping software. His range of experience allows him to distill complex technology and legal arguments into concise, digestible pieces for clients, judges, and arbitrators alike. Ernie has worked with several teams to obtain victories and advantageous settlements for clients, including a favorable settlement for a multinational technology company client against a non-practicing entity in the Eastern District of Texas regarding video processing patents, as well as a victory in arbitration for a Fortune 100 pharmaceutical company client regarding its next generation blockbuster eye drug.
Ernie graduated cum laude from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2021, earning the law school's Mabie Outstanding Graduate Award and a High Tech Law Certificate with a specialization in Intellectual Property Law. He also holds an M. Ed. from Harvard University Graduate School of Education and B.A.s from the University of California, Berkeley in Molecular & Cell Biology and Cognitive Science with a concentration in neurobiology and neuroscience, respectively. Ernie also served as law clerk to the Honorable Judge Tiffany P. Cunningham at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, where he honed his skills in patent law, legal writing, and judicial advocacy.
His combination of technical insight and litigation experience makes Ernie a trusted advocate for clients navigating the complexities of patent litigation. He leverages his skills to zealously represent pro bono clients, including successfully arguing before the San Francisco Immigration Court to grant asylum to a victim of gang violence as well as representing a veteran in appeal to the Federal Circuit to advocate for the veteran’s rights.