People

Yufeng (Ethan) Ma パートナー

Chicago; 北京

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.

David R. Medina シニア・アソシエイト

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 パートナー

サンフランシスコ

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 パートナー

デュッセルドルフ

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 シニア・アソシエイト

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 シニア・カウンセル

シリコン・バレー

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 パートナー

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 シニア・アソシエイト

サンフランシスコ

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 パートナー

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 パートナー

東京オフィス

訴訟や仲裁に発展する前の段階から、早期和解の可能性と案件の落し所を見極めつつ、クライアントに対して戦略的なアドバイスを提供する。また、クライアント・マネージメントの役割に止まらず、米国オフィスに所属する弁護士との優れたチームワークを発揮し、問題の本質を技術的及び法的観点からの分析、証人陳述書や弁論書面の作成等を含む裁判・仲裁実務の中心的役割を果たし、証言録取（Deposition）や証人尋問（Witness Examination）も自ら行う実務家である。さらに、米国以外の地域、特に欧州において、当事務所の欧州オフィスに所属する弁護士をサポートしつつ、複数の管轄で進行する紛争手続において、司令塔の役割を果たす能力にも優れている。

訴訟・仲裁手続に加えて、知的財産権のライセンス交渉、クロスボーダーM&A、ジョイントベンチャー、ベンチャー・キャピタルなどの案件における知的財産のデューデリジェンスもクライアントに対して日常的にアドバイスを提供する。

Robert M. O'Connell Jr. オブ・カウンセル

Boston

His experience includes clearance, registration and protection of trademarks, trade dress and designs; opposition and cancellation proceedings in the TTAB; UDRP and other domain name proceedings; registration and protection of copyrights; negotiation and drafting of a variety of coexistence, licensing and other IP-related agreements; and providing IP support on various M&A and financing transactions, most recently including a groundbreaking series of securitization deals involving music and television rights involving household-name artists.

Businesses ranging from small start-ups to multi-billion-dollar corporations turn to Bob for help developing and implementing cost-effective domestic and global branding and trademark protection plans. They hail from the financial services, food & beverage, apparel, retail and pharmaceutical industries, among others.

Bob’s significant transactional experience includes a trademark and merchandise license agreement for a large resort casino in Las Vegas, and naming rights and sponsorship agreements for a major league sports stadium and a prominent performing arts center.

He also has extensive commercial litigation and dispute resolution experience in both intellectual property and other matters in state and federal trial and appellate courts, in inter partes and appellate matters before the Trademark Trial & Appeal Board, and in UDRP arbitration proceedings. Noteworthy reported cases include: Coach Services, Inc. v. Triumph Learning LLC, 96 U.S.P.Q.2d 1600 (TTAB September 17, 2010) affirmed, 668 F.3d 1356 (Fed. Cir. 2012).

In the 2023 edition of World Trademark Review 1000, a listing of the world’s top trademark practitioners based on peer and client surveys, Bob received top-tier rankings for trademark prosecution and strategy with clients praising him for his “pragmatism, calmness, under pressure and fine-grained, detailed work product. Previously, WTR 1000 reported that Bob “wins effusive praise for his “pragmatic approach and unparalleled attention to detail.” “Simply stated, he is among the most cost-effective, business-oriented lawyers in any specialty.” “He is of incredible value – he matches anybody on expertise and exceeds most, if not all, on responsiveness and efficiency.” In prior years, WTR 1000 reviewers have said: “He never fails to address domestic and global branding issues quickly and comprehensively, causing one client to profess: ‘He is the only lawyer that I would use for trademark work in the Boston area.’” Bob has been characterized as a “distinguished” and “highly respected practitioner” with “a great reputation” in multinational mandates, who is “a trusted adviser in helping to build value in…brands” and “commands respect” particularly in the strategy and commercial field.” He has been listed in WTR 1000 each year since its inaugural edition in 2011, as well as WTR’s Global Leaders short-list since 2019.

Noteworthy past and present client engagements include:

• A famous sports footwear and apparel brand with trademark enforcement and opposition matters;
• The world’s largest retailer with trademark clearance matters across several business lines, as well as complex trademark prosecution and TTAB matters;
• A “super-regional” bank with a portfolio of hundreds of federal and state trademarks and an active TTAB and UDRP enforcement program;
• A global spirits company with hundreds of brands and an extensive enforcement docket;
• A leading global private equity firm;
• A national women’s apparel retail chain with stores across the United States and Canada; and
• A branded pharmaceutical company with pioneering products for both human and veterinary medicine.

Jake O'Neal マネージング・アソシエイト

Los Angeles

Jake graduated first in his class with a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Colorado and worked at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, where he designed, built, and tested circuits for NASA-contracted space missions.  Since graduating in the top 10% of his class from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, Jake has litigated diverse patent matters, encompassing cybersecurity, gaming, digital advertising technologies, analog and digital electronics, circuit design, testing, and fabrication, and renewable energy.  He also possesses notable experience in copyright cases involving AI and data scraping.  

Jake is deeply committed to pro bono work in indigent criminal defense, stemming from his Orrick fellowship at the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California.  Notably, he successfully secured compassionate release for a client serving a life sentence and played a crucial role as third-chair in a 10-day trial involving a client charged with violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA).

When Jake isn't advocating for his clients, he enjoys writing and recording music under the artist name Drip Lines and spending time with his wife, daughter, and two dogs.