People

Jing Luo Senior Associate

Silicon Valley

Jing’s practice is primarily focused on patent and trade secret litigation. Her experience covers a broad range of technologies including small molecules (salts, polymorphs, formulations, and process patents) and biologic drugs, medical devices, diagnostics, software, and semiconductors.  She has worked on Hatch Waxman (ANDA) litigation as well as Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA) cases defending multi-billion-dollar diabetes and cancer drugs from generic/biosimilar challenges. Her clients have ranged from big pharmaceutical companies, to biotechnology companies, to pre-IPO startups, which uniquely positions her to counsel companies at all stages on portfolio strategy. Jing’s extensive background in biosciences, including years of laboratory research experience, serves her clients well in  high-stakes matters before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, U.S. District Courts, and Federal Circuit. Recently, Jing helped defend the validity of all challenged claims in a salt/polymorph patent in an IPR and was instrumental in developing parallel district court cases for a blockbuster diabetes drug.

Alongside her intellectual property practice, Jing has the privilege of using her Federal Circuit experience to represent veterans pro bono in their appeals to the court.

Prior to joining Orrick, Jing served as a judicial law clerk for Judge Raymond T. Chen at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and was an associate at a Vault 100 litigation boutique in Washington, D.C. Before law school, Jing was a Marshall Scholar, and she pursued dual graduate degrees in biosciences and policy studies while conducting public policy research in the U.K. and the United States.

Yufeng (Ethan) Ma Partner

Chicago; Pechino

In addition to specializing in complex IP litigation relating to patent infringement, ITC 337 investigations, trade secrets misappropriation and unfair competition, Ethan has extensive experience advising clients on IP administrative disputes and reexamination, IP strategies, IP due diligence, and IP aspects of strategic transactions, including licensing or transfer, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and collaborations. His clients cover a wide range of industries, including medical devices, hardwares, softwares, internet, semiconductors, electronics, telecommunications, AI, automobile, chemical, materials, energy, etc. His recent clients include Baidu, Tencent, SMIC, JD.com, Micro-Tech, Vivo, Coolpad, Anker, OnePlus, Govee, LANHE, Lovense, Zhejiang Rongpeng, Sansi Electronic Engineering, Yaham Optoelectronics, CreateLED Electronics, Howshow Technology, Huayi Mechanical and Electrical, INFiLED Electronics, Applied Materials, Synopsys, Coilcaft, Hecate, etc.

Over the years, Ethan has represented dozens of Chinese companies in resolving their IP disputes in the U.S. Ethan and his litigation teams won a number of high-profile ITC investigations involving Chinese companies and earned clients’ long-term trust. In one investigation (337-TA-623), his clients are four subsidiaries of a large state-owned company in China, who were sued for patent infringement. The Commission reversed the late Chief Administrative Law Judge’s unfavorable decision and found that Ethan’s clients were not infringing and did not violate Section 337. In another investigation (337-TA-655), he represented the complainant and its subsidiaries in China suing a group of Chinese respondents for trade secret misappropriation. The ITC issued a 10-year exclusion order against these respondents. This landmark decision represents a new development of trade secret law and ITC jurisdiction in the U.S., and was upheld by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Since then, Ethan has won case after case on behalf of his clients. He is also committed to resolving disputes in the most cost-effective and timely way. “Ethan always tries to resolve matters for clients at the lowest cost possible,” said a client who won a case as he recommended Ethan to his peers.

For instance, in 2017, Ethan successfully defended Shenzhen Howshow Technology against Kent Displays, Inc. in an ITC 337 investigation (337-TA-1035) involving alleged infringement of patents relating to liquid crystal e-writers and components. Orrick secured a complete victory for the client by forcing the complainant to unconditionally withdraw after four months of active litigation. The case was named “Deal of the Year 2017 – Disputes and Investigations” by China Business Law Journal.

In another case, Ethan successfully defended Sansi Electronic Engineering, CreateLED Electronics, Yaham Optoelectronics. and other Chinese respondents against Ultravision Technologies in an ITC Section 337 investigation (337-TA-1114) filed on 27 March 2018 involving alleged infringement of patents relating to certain modular LED display panels and components. The complainant was forced to withdraw the complaint unconditionally during the expert discovery period in November 2018, which led to a final termination by the ITC on 21 February 2019.

Prior to joining Orrick, Ethan served as Director of IP, Asia of a world leader in specialty glass and ceramics, where he was in charge of the company’s daily IP matters in China and throughout Asia. Before that, he was a partner and member of the Board at McAndrews, Held & Malloy in Chicago, Illinois. Ethan was the first non-US born lawyer of that firm.

In the past 20 years, Ethan has been committed to building bridges and facilitating understanding between China and the US on IP protection and exchange. In addition to being a frequent speaker at various seminars and conferences in China and the US, Ethan regularly publishes articles and has been interviewed by numerous media. He served as a committee member of the Asian Legal Committee of Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) for many years.

Ethan is also actively involved in the “One Belt One Road” and “Going Out” initiatives led by the PRC government and non-profit organizations. He participated in Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce’s “Going Overseas Service Portal” project, and acts as an expert of Shenzhen Overseas IP Protection and Assistance Expert Pool, a special advisor to Wisdom IP - Overseas Intellectual Property Alliance (WIPA), Nanjing, Jiangsu, an expert in Nanjing Overseas IP Think Tank, Zehjiang Dongyang IP Think Tank, Shanghai International Economic and Trade IP Protection Overseas Expert Pool, and one of the first batch experts in Shanghai Overseas IP Disputes Resolution Expert Pool.

Richard F. Martinelli Partner

New York

He has litigated patents at trial, before the ITC, and on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Rich has counseled clients and rendered opinions on patent validity, infringement and freedom to use. He is a registered patent attorney with experience drafting patents and practicing before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Rich’s patent work has involved a wide range of technologies including image processing, 3d graphics, audio / video compression, computer hardware and software, e-commerce, network technologies, digital rights management and encryption.

Rich also helps companies address the novel litigation and transactional IP issues that arise when developing and working with AI and is a frequent lecturer on these topics.

David R. Medina Senior Associate

Los Angeles

David develops strategies to protect his client’s bold innovations, whether assisting one of the world's leading technology companies, or a mobile gaming start-up. He offers intellectual property counseling and litigation, including patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret matters.

Before joining Orrick, David served as a law clerk to the Honorable Nora Barry Fischer in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Prior to his clerkship, David served as a full-time extern to the Honorable Kathleen O'Malley at the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

David also spent a year working in-house for Panasonic Corporation, stationed near Panasonic's Osaka, Japan headquarters.

Will Melehani Partner

San Francisco

By delving into each case’s complexities and elegantly connecting those details to a broader technical perspective, Will creatively unravels his opposition’s argument.

Will uses this approach to defend cutting edge computer, Internet, software companies and life sciences companies with great success, having prevailed in numerous subject matter eligibility challenges. Will's mastery of patent law also allows him to ensure his strategy will withstand appeal, where Will has frequently played a key role in writing and arguing the appellate briefs. Whether handling patent, trademark or trade secrets matters, Will’s creative methodology gives his clients a unique advantage.

Will is also an enthusiastic participant in Orrick's pro bono efforts, and has obtained successful results for several disadvantaged and low-income pro bono clients.

Benedikt Migdal Partner

Düsseldorf

Benedikt advises on structuring and negotiating the IP aspects of corporate transactions, including M&A, divestments and venture investments as well as of commercial transactions where intellectual property rights and know-how are key assets. His work encompasses, for example, IP licensing and technology transfer agreements, engineering services agreements, transition services agreements, R&D collaborations, and IP aspects of contracts throughout the life sciences sector.

Benedikt is also an experienced patent and trade secret litigator and has represented German and international clients from a range of industries in complex disputes, especially concerning patents and know-how in the fields of mobile telecommunication/connectivity and the life sciences.

Based on his extensive experience in both IP transactions and litigation, he deeply understands the full range of legal and economical issues that technology-driven companies are challenged with in context with IP. This also includes IP-related competition law issues, such as FRAND-requirements for licensing and enforcing standard essential patents as well as issues arising in connection with EU regulations concerning technology transfers.

Tyler Miller Senior Associate

New York

Tyler has represented clients in the federal district courts, before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and at the United States Patent and Trademark Office in IPR and CBM matters.  He has experience in matters involving a wide range of technologies, including software, consumer electronics and biotechnology.

Denise Mingrone Senior Counsel

Silicon Valley

No stranger to the courtroom and having handled complex litigations for technology giants including Synopsys, Brocade, Applied Materials and Oracle, Denise seamlessly and efficiently manages large teams to secure victory. Clients appreciate her transparent collaboration and instinct for developing a strategy that ensures the right evidence is presented in the best manner.

The jury verdict Denise’s team obtained in the Netgear v. Ruckus Wireless patent trial, for example, surprised most because the team took over the case just weeks before jury selection, earning the number one place on that week’s “Top Jury Verdicts.” Prior to the Ruckus trial, Denise’s team similarly received accolades as “Top Verdict of the Year” for its jury win on behalf of Brocade against A10 Networks involving patent and copyright infringement. These victories were preceded by a trade secret win for MGA in the “Barbie v. Bratz” epic battle against Mattel, which earned Denise the “California Lawyer of the Year” award for her contributions.

In addition, Ms. Mingrone has led numerous software piracy matters, obtaining full relief whether through negotiation or litigation. Her work in this area encompasses both confidential as well as public investigations, all designed to ensure clients secure the protection of their intellectual property rights and receive appropriate relief when those rights are infringed.

As a former law clerk to several federal judges, Denise appreciates that cases do not turn on facts alone. She has waged and won numerous courtroom battles both obtaining and defending pre-trial injunction motions. As one opponent noted, “She’s a fierce advocate who will go to the mat for her client’s position.”

Geoffrey Moss Partner

Los Angeles

As a member of Orrick’s Intellectual Property group, Geoff represents clients big and small through all stages of litigation, from pre-suit investigations through trial and appeals. Geoff was a member of the trial team and lead technology associate in Oracle v. Google, the long-running and high stakes lawsuit over Google’s use of Oracle’s Java APIs in the Android operating system. Geoff also has significant experience representing clients in a variety of commercial, employment, and products liability lawsuits.

Before attending law school, Geoff worked as a software developer at The Capital Group Companies, Raytheon, and the Teradata division of NCR.

Geoff spends significant time working on pro bono matters, notably with the Domestic Violence Project through the Los Angeles County Bar Association. The Project helps those in need navigate a complicated legal system in their time of need to get the restraining orders they need to stay safe.

Sarah Mullins Senior Associate

San Francisco

Sarah is an associate in the firm's Intellectual Property group. Before law school, Sarah worked for four years in the in-house legal departments of major technology companies. She draws on her in-house experience to understand her clients' businesses and needs and to come up with creative solutions to their legal challenges.

Immediately prior to joining Orrick, Sarah clerked for Justice Daniel E. Winfree of the Alaska Supreme Court.

During law school, Sarah gained civil litigation experience as a clinical intern in the East Bay Community Law Center's Consumer Justice Clinic and served as a student director of Berkeley Law's Appellate Advocacy course.

Laura Brooks Najemy Partner

Boston

Laura’s litigation experience spans the gamut from initial pleadings through trial and everything in between. She represents numerous clients in the technology, automotive, retail, consumer products, and real estate industries. Her clients appreciate her diligence, effective communication, and excellent strategic judgment. At Orrick, Laura leads the Women’s Initiative for the Boston office and co-chairs the firm’s Middle East & North African inclusion network. She also co-chairs the Boston Bar Association’s Intellectual Property section.

Laura served as a Special District Attorney for Middlesex County in 2014. In that capacity, she prosecuted felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, trying jury and bench trials to final verdict and arguing dispositive and evidentiary motions. In 2010–2011, Laura completed a yearlong fellowship at the Political Asylum/Immigration Representation (PAIR) Project in Boston, where she assisted individuals who were affirmatively seeking asylum as well as defended individuals who were in removal proceedings in front of the Immigration Court. Through her pro bono practice, Laura continues to be committed to working to help individuals with various immigration matters.

Anri Nakamoto Partner

Tokyo; Washington, D.C.

Anri brings a combination of unique skills and attributes which, collectively, make him essential to both maintaining and growing Orrick's longstanding successful practice representing Japanese clients in high-value IP litigation matters as well as serving Orrick's clients worldwide who have needs in Japan.  Unlike the limited role of most lawyers in Japan who focus on U.S. IP litigation to client relationship management, Anri is adept at both client relationship and substantive litigation work including briefing and taking witness at trials.  

In addition to many patent cases at district courts, USITC and before the US Patent and Trademark Office, Anri is also an experienced practitioner in international arbitration practice. Most recently, he played a huge role in a massive international arbitration matter, which resulted in a complete victory for his client.