Goodwin Procter LLP

Recommended - Firms: prosecution

Silver - Firms: litigation

Highly-recommended - Firms: transactions

“Goodwin Procter handles the highest profile pharmaceutical patent cases and has an outstanding track record of success. It has many extraordinarily talented and capable attorneys and advisers who know how to translate their scientific knowledge into winning strategies and compelling presentations before judges and juries. Without a doubt, it is one of the top life sciences patent trial firms in the country.” Much credit for its eminent standing is owed to Daryl Wiesen, who does a sterling job as IP litigation group chair – the quote above came from one of his patrons, who cited his leadership as a pivotal factor in their shared success. He is surrounded by high-level talent in Boston: leading the local litigation department, Elaine Blais is as knowledgeable and up to date on the biosimilars world as anyone, and an excellent first-chair trial lawyer, too. Alongside Wiesen she has been representing Nektar Pharmaceuticals in a patent and contract dispute against UCB Pharma playing out in the District of Delaware, in an arbitration and in actions in Germany and Switzerland. She has also been representing Teva against Eli Lilly in the District of Massachusetts – an important brand-versus-brand biologics dispute in which veteran trial counsel Douglas Kline is also involved. “Doug has wide-ranging technical expertise allowing him to address complex cases clearly and thoughtfully. His advocacy is presented in a clear and concise manner, giving the listener a detailed and accurate understanding – he’s not someone that speaks down to jurors in an overly simplified or condescending manner; he’s also highly persuasive.” Tony Downs is also on hand for the most business-critical matters; the retired partner is an excellent strategic sounding board given his decades of top-level litigation experience. Goodwin Procter is a compelling choice in the life sciences not only for litigation but for strategic counselling and transactional work. Essential contacts in this regard are Theresa Kavanaugh, Kingsley Taft, Duncan Greenhalgh, Christopher Denn and Sarah Solomon. An expert on late-stage drug development, Kavanaugh is “superb at giving timely, detail-oriented and tactically smart advice. She truly understands the biotechnology industry and how to strengthen and extend her clients’ patent estates.” Taft is a transactional maestro and recently advised clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Arvinas in a global collaboration with Pfizer. Greenhalgh represented Vaccitech in its US initial public offering and preceding Series B crossover financing as an integral member of an international cross-disciplinary team the likes of which very few outfits can put together. Denn has in-house experience and is a trusted adviser to the C-suite. Solomon has experience working with the likes of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Moderna in major strategic alliances and collaborations. Shifting the focus to the high-technology space, Goodwin is well-resourced there, too: for portfolio management and transactions, Joel Lehrer is good to go. “Joel helps his clients get smarter and make better use of their time and budgets. He can be highly recommended to any CEO looking for a patent attorney.” Stephen Charkoudian is a licensing and technology transactions specialist. He recently advised WHOOP, a Boston-based wearable technology company, in a commercial partnership agreement with G42 Healthcare, a leading technology company committed to developing a world-class, sustainable healthcare sector in the United Arab Emirates, following on from which WHOOP became the first wearable device to be used as part of the world’s first Phase 3 Covid-19 vaccine trials, monitored by G42. He linked up with Dave Cappillo, the healthcare practice co-chair, again showcasing Goodwin’s collaborative approach.

Silver - Firms: litigation

Recommended - Firms: transactions

Recommended - Firms: prosecution

Highly esteemed for its life sciences expertise, Goodwin Procter is hotly tipped by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, who look to the firm to protect their crown jewel patent assets and fight their most important battles. Two of its best industry specialists in California are Michael Shuster and Shane Albright, the former a savvy strategic counsellor and the latter a consummate transactional lawyer. Coming in for special praise, Shuster is “incredibly easy to work with and, more than just an attorney, is a warm and genuine individual who practises patent law with a human touch and understands how to build strong client relationships. He gets things done cost effectively, is very cognisant of budgets and is completely transparent around billing. What’s also impressive is the patience with which he teaches those around him – he does a lot to help the next generation of attorneys in his outfit, which should be commended.” His recent highlights include advising Gemini Therapeutics alongside Goodwin’s special purpose acquisition companies team, in its definitive business combination agreement with FS Development, in the context of which he took care of prosecution and IP due diligence. Top licensing expert Albright has supervised important deals for AbCellera Biologics and Allogene Therapeutics, among others. For high-quality electrical engineering work on the West Coast, Sanjeet Dutta more than meets expectations. He has recently advised an autonomous vehicle client in connection with hundreds of patent applications globally and supported a top financial software company with patenting in its fastest growing product area. High-impact work is also the order of the day for the ensemble’s litigators, including headline act Neel Chatterjee. Ranked in the IAM Patent 1000 gold tier for good reason, “Neel can take over complex cases from other firms and drastically change the trajectory by making the right strategic decisions. His understanding of new technologies and their business context, along with his ability to navigate difficult adversaries, intricate hearings, revealing depositions and Federal Circuit appeals are amazing. He also displays a rare level of empathic concern in connection with issues peripherally related to a case but which are nonetheless exceedingly important to the client; he manages the technology and human elements of patent litigation in a way that truly sets him apart.” He is currently representing MobileIron against BlackBerry in a case that many in the licensing world are watching closely, as it could give rise to new ways for accused infringers to attack the licensing tactics of patent owners. Both seasoned lead trial lawyers, Chatterjee and Darryl Woo regularly link up to give patrons a strong one-two punch. Cut from the same cloth, Brett Schuman takes the reins in San Francisco. He recently took the lead for health information company Datavant in a competitor suit brought by Management Science Associates, which he successfully dismissed on Section 101 grounds.

Silver - Firms: litigation

Several factors make Goodwin Procter a high-flyer in US patent litigation, including a top-drawer ITC team and leading appellate capabilities. Its Section 337 investigations experts have represented not only top technology companies but also pharmaceutical industry leaders, who litigate before the Commission with less frequency. On the frontlines is Patrick McCarthy, who is dynamically engaged in Goodwin’s practice not just as an ITC leader but as an all-round litigator, who is named on many of the firm’s work highlights. His recent ITC work includes representing General Electric and Fujian Wanlong Superhard Material Techno in separate investigations; in district court litigation he has been handling an eight-patent case in the Western District of Texas for Renesas Electronics Corporation; at the PTAB he has been acting for Ledman Optoelectronic in three inter partes reviews. Brilliant at the Federal Circuit, William Jay is one of the nation’s best appellate advocates and strategists and leads the group’s Supreme Court and appellate practice. A new name in the DC rankings, though not new to the IAM Patent 1000, Calvin Wingfield recently relocated from New York to the capital, deepening the local bench. He is an integral member of cross-office trial teams representing top life sciences companies such as Novartis and technology leaders including Facebook.

Gold - Firms: litigation

Proficiency in life sciences patent litigation is a defining feature of Goodwin Procter’s IP practice; it has tremendous depth in the area and both seasoned and fast-rising stars on its roster. Well on her way to senior leadership is Huiya Wu, who has clocked up more than 20 years of experience. “She does a fantastic job leading on matters from inception through trial and is smart, experienced and well versed in managing complex pharmaceutical litigations. She has become a go-to for biosimilar matters.” Turning heads as an up and comer, Alexandra Valenti also garners excellent references: “Alex thoroughly understands the development history of complex biologics products and the context of disputes. She demonstrates mastery of the facts of her cases and delivers successful strategies, while running everything to the highest professional standards. She is extremely polished and a superb litigator.” Entering the IAM Patent 1000 for the first time this year, Linnea Cipriano is also gaining momentum thanks to sterling performances in district courts and the PTAB. With Wu, she is currently acting for Amneal Pharmaceuticals in a Hatch-Waxman litigation against patentee Par Pharmaceutical, which sells injectable blood pressure treatment Vasostrict, for which there is currently no generic version. Goodwin Procter also has talent up and down the ranks on the high-technology side, where it litigates with equal proficiency. The names to know in this regard are Mark Abate and Naomi Birbach, who have teamed up to defend Pass & Seymour in a dispute with Leviton Manufacturing, another leading company in the ground fault circuit interrupters market. Abate is well known for his representation of IBM, for which he has racked up many victories. Elevated to partner in 2021, Birbach is doing important work for household-name companies such as Facebook, for which she recently obtained a dismissal of a multi-patent case on Section 101 grounds.

Silver - Firms: litigation