Intellectual Property: California

THE FIRM This firm's IP practitioners operate from three offices in California, in Silicon Valley, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The group handles litigation, transactional and prosecution work within the entertainment, IT and life sciences industries. Clients includes Verisign, Genentech and NBC Universal.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Ronald Johnston leads the global IP and technology practice, and recently advised NBC Universal on its appeal over the application of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to social networking websites. He is recognized for his strong copyright practice and is also well known for handling trademark, patent and trade secret litigation.

Marty Glick is a recent recruit to the practice, having left Howard, Rice, Nemerovski, Canady, Falk & Rabkin. He is popular with clients, and "very cordial, responsive and intelligent; he undertakes a quick study of the facts and understands our business needs and expectations." 

THE FIRM This firm has five offices in California and is a key player in IP, praised for its work in IP litigation, trademark and copyright matters. It represents clients from the hi-tech, life sciences and financial services industries, with key names including Oracle, Hewlett-Packard and Stanford University.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Geoffrey Howard cochairs the firm's IP group and is popular with clients, who say he is "incredibly smart, extremely responsive, tireless and skilled at all aspects of litigation, including trial." Howard is based in San Francisco and focuses on trademark, copyright and trade secret law.  

THE FIRM This firm handles litigation, patent counseling and prosecution, and trademark and copyright matters for a range of hi-tech, biotech and media clients. It handles all patent litigation for Facebook and notably secured a victory in the social media giant's first ever trial, against Leader Technologies. Other recent highlights include achieving a $1.5 billion licensing deal for NVIDIA with Intel.

Sources say: "I choose to send cases to Cooley because of their price point, their ability to meet tight deadlines and the quality of the patent applications. They put forth a good product." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Thomas Friel is head of the firm's Bay Area IP litigation group. He recently secured a jury defense verdict in a software patent infringement suit brought against Vistaprint.

Anne Peck is highly regarded for her trademark work on behalf of clients such as LinkedIn and Facebook, and has recently filed several offensive trademark cases for the latter.

THE FIRM Covington & Burling has offices in San Francisco, Silicon Valley and San Diego, and is held in high regard for patent and trade secret litigation. The firm has been at the forefront of the recent 'smartphone wars', and is well known for its representation of technology companies Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard and SAMSUNG.

Sources say: "Very smart and responsive lawyers; an excellent firm that I would use again." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Michael Plimack is new to the rankings this year, having impressed clients with his "high availability, strong strategic thinking and excellent negotiating skills." He cochairs the patent litigation team and is a key contact for Hewlett-Packard. 

Peers admire Robert Haslam's patent and trade secret litigation practice. He recently achieved a highly publicized victory for Huawei in its trade secret dispute with Motorola.

Robert Fram earns market recognition for his San Francisco-based patent litigation, trade secret and licensing practice. He has recently been involved in representing Fujitsu in patent litigation.

THE FIRM As part of an extensive global network, this respected patent litigation team is well positioned to handle multi-jurisdictional matters. The firm has offices in San Diego, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley and San Francisco, ensuring it strong coverage across the state. Recent highlights include representing Motorola in its patent offensive against Research In Motion, and handling a successful district court trial for Abbott Laboratories.

Sources say: "They have excellent lawyers and processes for handling complex IP litigation on a global basis. Working with them is enjoyable too!"

KEY INDIVIDUALS Lisa Haile specializes in patent work for life sciences clients and is commended as "a brilliant scientist who is extremely knowledgeable about technology matters relevant to our business as well as relevant patent law in the USA and internationally."  

John Allcock is a highly respected patent trial lawyer and arbitrator, whose recent highlights include winning a trial on behalf of Abbott Laboratories against generic drug maker Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, concerning a blood pressure drug.

Patent litigator Richard de Bodo is commended for his representation of life sciences, electronics and internet companies. He successfully represented Affymax in a bet-the-company patent battle against Johnson & Johnson and Ortho-McNeil.

Since publication, Richard de Bodo has joined Bingham McCutchen LLP

THE FIRM This San Francisco boutique maintains a positive reputation for its high-quality work. The compact team attracts high-profile IP litigation work from clients including Google, Genentech and NetFlix.

Sources say: "The firm has positioned itself very well and is getting a lot of recognition." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Michael Page focuses on trademark and copyright litigation, and is an expert in online privacy class actions.

According to peers, Daralyn Durie is "a joy to work with." She is often at the forefront of the firm's most notable patent litigation cases, representing clients such as Genentech and LinkedIn.

Founding partner Mark Lemley is well respected for his IP antitrust and internet law expertise, and represents clients such as Google, NetFlix and the University of Colorado Foundation. He is also noted for his role as William H. Neukom Professor of Law at Stanford Law School.

Ragesh Tangri is commended for his broad practice, which covers a range of IP, professional negligence, antitrust and trade secret matters.

THE FIRM Fenwick & West's California IP team is spread across offices in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, and handles IP litigation, patent prosecution and licensing. The group has a strong reputation for its work in the technology and life sciences sectors. Clients include Apple, SEGA of America and Groupon.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Sally Abel has an international trademark and trade name practice, specializing particularly in online trademarks and portfolios of an international scope. Her clients include NVIDIA and Cisco Systems.

David Hayes advises hi-tech companies on litigation, counseling and audits. He is an expert in open source matters and copyright issues in an internet context, working for clients such as Amazon.com and Synopsys.  

Lynn Pasahow represents companies in the software, internet and life sciences industries, as well as lecturing at the Berkeley School of Law. He has recently assisted Hewlett-Packard and Twitter, among other clients, with IP litigation, counseling and licensing.

Andrew Bridges recently joined the team from Winston & Strawn and is recommended for his strategic advice and expertise in copyright and trademark litigation. He successfully defended golf ball manufacturer Acushnet against Callaway Golf's allegations of patent infringement.

THE FIRM This team is best known for its patent work, for which it has a national reputation. Commentators are impressed with the Palo Alto office's full prosecution and litigation offering. Recent highlights include achieving a key victory for Eli Lilly in patent litigation with Teva. Other major clients include Research In Motion, Abbott Laboratories and HTC America.

Sources say: "They understand our business and are very sensitive to our needs." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Erik Puknys is managing partner of the Palo Alto office.

THE FIRM Fish & Richardson's attorneys in Southern California and Silicon Valley remain popular with clients for their expert handling of patent and trademark strategy, counseling, prosecution and litigation. The firm represents hi-tech, biotech and software companies, including Allergan, eHarmony and Power Integrations.

Sources say: "They have the perfect combination of expertise and client focus, and are the very best at integrating those two factors into the way they do business."  

KEY INDIVIDUALS Katherine Lutton has a highly respected hi-tech patent litigation practice, representing clients in a variety of areas including semiconductor technology, telecom, circuits and systems, software and internet applications. She recently obtained a favorable settlement for VMWare in a patent case against Implicit Networks, regarding content creation technology for webservers. 

THE FIRM This firm has a broad IP practice and advises on litigation, negotiating licenses, protecting IP, joint ventures and advocating change in IP law and policy. The client base spans a wide variety of industries, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, software and computers. The firm has five outposts in California, and acts for the likes of Sharp and Amazon.com.

Sources say: "A first-rate IP practice that I highly recommend for high-stakes patent litigation."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Wayne Barsky is "a fantastic trial lawyer who always takes a pragmatic, business-oriented approach to representing his clients' interests." He cochairs the IP group and excels in patent litigation for clients in the biotechnology, computer and software industries.

Fellow cochair Denis Salmon is highly experienced in hi-tech, life sciences and medical device matters. He has a strong following of clients, who appreciate that "he understands our business and is a very good strategic thinker."  

THE FIRM This international player fields recognized IP experts in its San Francisco, Orange County, Silicon Valley and Los Angeles offices. It is sought after for high-value matters, often with an international dimension, and appeals to clients in a broad range of industries, including biotech, electronics, e-commerce, fashion and consumer products. The team is respected for its strategic counseling, litigation and transactional know-how.

Sources say: "Clear subject matter experts, technologically savvy and very aware of current technology. A practice built on efficiency and trust." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Nicholas Brown advises on patent litigation involving complex technology and has recently invalidated asserted claims on behalf of Apple, Yahoo! and Microsoft. He is also frequently engaged on matters relating to medical devices, semiconductor technology and DNA sequencing.

Heather Meeker is commended as "a national expert in open source issues," who is "very easy to work with." She specializes in IP transactions for software and technology clients.

THE FIRM This is one of the premier IP practices in California, maintaining a deep bench and a stellar reputation. The team is primarily known for its prowess in patent litigation, and also handles patent prosecution, IP counseling, trade secret and copyright matters. The firm's offices in Los Angeles and Newport Beach are the first port of call for clients in a wide selection of industries, including medical products, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, biotech, software and video games. Key clients include TiVo, St. Jude Medical and Spansion. 

Sources say: "Some fantastically gifted lawyers. Irell & Manella is the firm to turn to for 'bet the company' cases." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS "Superstar" Morgan Chu "may well be the best trial lawyer in the country," according to clients. He is a rainmaker for the firm, and is currently representing TiVo in patent infringement claims against AT&T and Microsoft.

Highly respected copyright lawyer David Nimmer represents clients from the hi-tech, entertainment and publishing sectors, including Amazon.com, which he recently represented as an objector in The Authors Guild v Google. 

Jonathan Steinberg works in litigation across patent, trademark and copyright issues. He was recently part of the team that secured a $27.1 million verdict on behalf of St. Jude Medical in a case against Access Closure.

David Gindler "provides absolutely brilliant advice and counsel in complex IP matters, and his legal drafting skills are unrivaled," say clients. His expertise covers biotechnology, medical devices and semiconductors.

According to sources, Benjamin Hattenbach is "a fantastically smart litigator who will be very well known ten years from now." He recently prevailed on the Spansion v ITC appeal, affirming the ITC's decision that six companies had infringed on patents held by Tessera.

Andrei Iancu handles patent litigation, patent and trademark prosecution, licensing and due diligence. He primarily represents clients in the internet, video game and medical device industries, and has been instrumental in the firm's recent representations of TiVo.

THE FIRM With offices in Los Angeles, Irvine, San Diego, San Francisco and Silicon Valley, this global firm has strong coverage in California and an edge in multijurisdictional matters. The IP team is best known as a force in patent litigation, and is also recommended for its strength in patent prosecution and IP transactions.

Sources say: "A real go-to firm – high-quality lawyers who are practical and efficient." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Bill Rooklidge is a key contact in the Los Angeles office.

THE FIRM This San Francisco trial firm is highly experienced in complex litigation involving patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret claims. It handles high-stakes work for clients in the entertainment, media, hi-tech and biotechnology sectors. Key IP clients include Comcast and Intel, and the team is representing HTC in its dispute with Apple over allowing Android phones into the US market, positioning the firm solidly at the heart of the 'smartphone wars'.

Sources say: "A top-notch, economical firm – when you hire them you are sending the message that you want to fight."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Robert Van Nest is "universally regarded as fantastic," as one peer put it. Van Nest handles high-profile patent dispute work such as representing Google and HTC, and is highlighted by clients as "a genuinely nice person." 

Jeffrey Chanin specializes in trade secret misappropriation, patent infringement, and copyright litigation. He recently represented TMSC in a patent infringement case brought by Ziptronix concerning the manufacturing of image sensors for smartphones.

Commentators regard seasoned litigator John Keker as being "on top of his game." He recently defended Palantir Technologies against a competitor's charges of trade secret and copyright infringement.

THE FIRM This firm's patent offering was boosted in strength and depth by the recent merger. It has a good presence throughout the state, with offices in Palo Alto, San Diego, San Francisco and Walnut Creek. The team is well respected for its patent litigation and prosecution work, and represents the likes of Oracle, Epson and Levi Strauss.

Sources say: "The team is responsive, intelligent and easy to work with, and offers consistently solid value." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS James Isbester is a key contact for patent litigation, and Anthony Malutta co-leads the firm’s trademark and copyright team.

THE FIRM This firm has a national reputation for trial success, thanks in no small part to its California teams in Palo Alto, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The firm's expertise in litigation and non-contentious IP matters attracts big-name clients such as Cisco Systems, Apple and Samsung Electronics. Recent highlights include acting for Alcatel-Lucent in the trial on patent infringement damages in its dispute with Microsoft. 

Sources say: "I have found the K&E team to be responsive, bright, hard-working and direct. The team has strong expertise across the board." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS  San Francisco-based patent litigator Adam Alper has great expertise in representing clients in the semiconductor, telecom, computer hardware and pharmaceutical industries. He has recently been involved in the firm's representation of seven major movie studios, defending against claims of patent infringement.

Other key contacts include Luke Dauchot in patent litigation and Diana Torres for copyright and trademark work.

THE FIRM This IP boutique is an undisputed front runner in patent prosecution in California and handles procurement, licensing and litigation, whether in patent, trademark or copyright. With offices in Orange County, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Riverside, the firm's geographic reach is another strong point.

Sources say: "A very strong firm – definitely one of the leaders in patent work." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Based in Orange County, Joseph Re is a well-respected litigator for patent infringement cases, and is experienced in arbitration and in appearing before trial and appellate courts. He has a strong following of medical devices clients.

Don Martens also works from the Orange County office, where he is retired as a partner but serves as an arbitrator and special master in IP cases.

THE FIRM This firm's global presence is a major draw for clients with IP disputes and transactions of an international nature. The team handles all manner of IP disputes, representing plaintiffs and defendants in patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret litigation and arbitration. The firm has long been a favorite of the hi-tech and media industries, with clients including Marvell Semiconductor and the Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust. The Silicon Valley and San Francisco offices have recently been boosted by the arrival of six partners from Wilson Sonsini.

Sources say: "Latham's depth of experience means the team does not expend an inordinate amount of time 'getting up to speed' on issues in their respective fields." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Perry Viscounty "makes himself available at all hours and has an engaging personality which makes him fun to work with even if the subject matter is quite serious," say clients. Viscounty is based in Orange County and cochairs Latham’s global IP practice, representing Adobe, Nestlé and Gap, among other clients.

Ron Shulman recently joined the group from Wilson Sonsini and is "really one of the best for patent litigation and a big win for Latham," say sources. He has experience in working with clients in the semiconductor, laser, mechanical device and computer software industries.

Based in Los Angeles, Mark Flagel excels at patent litigation in the IT field. He recently represented Symantec in one of the first patent infringement cases filed by Intellectual Ventures, which asserts infringement of patents relating to online security technologies.

Since publication, Douglas Lumish has joined the team from Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP. Lumish focuses on the software and internet industries, and earns praise from clients for being "very effective at getting the best business resolution, but also very capable if you have to go to trial."

THE FIRM This integrated practice is recommended for its patent litigation and prosecution team, and for its trademark offering. Clients benefit from the firm's California offices in Silicon Valley, Orange County, San Diego and Los Angeles, as well as a patent litigation group in east Texas and offices in foreign IT hotspots, including the UK, Germany and China. The team acts for Qualcomm, LinkedIn and Panasonic, among other clients.

Sources say: "They stand out for their thoroughness and attention to detail, client service and satisfaction. Their experience with common patent jurisdictions and judges is especially helpful." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Terrence McMahon is a go-to lawyer for high-stakes IP litigation involving patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets or trade dress. He recently acted for Fairchild Semiconductor International in its patent disputes with Power Integrations.

Clients admire Yar Chaikovsky's "encyclopedic knowledge of patent law," and praise him as "an excellent strategist and top trial lawyer because he has real guts and determination." His key clients include Yahoo! and Rovi.

Anthony de Alcuaz recently won a patent dispute on behalf of Aristocrat, a manufacturer of slot machines and gaming technology, against International Game Technology. He has a broad practice covering IP litigation and transactions related to patents, copyright, trademarks, trade secrets and unfair competition.

THE FIRM This firm offers a soup-to-nuts IP services, with experts in transactional work, prosecution and litigation. Recent highlights include successfully representing Novell in a trial against SCO Group, in which a jury determined that Novell owned the copyrights to the UNIX computer operating system. Other clients include Mitsubishi Digital Electronics, ICU Medical and Capital One. The firm is headquartered in San Francisco and also has offices in Los Angeles, Palo Alto and San Diego.

Sources say: "A highly professional IP organization with expertise across a broad range of disciplines, and a global perspective. They have a deserved reputation for high-quality, responsive work."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Michael Jacobs is "very astute and personable, and instills a sense of confidence in his clients," according to interviewees. He is representing Oracle in a patent and copyright infringement suit filed against Google concerning the use of the Java platform in Android.

Harold McElhinny is involved in some of the group's most high-profile IP trials, and is particularly noted for his work in the electronics and life sciences industries. "He is always the smartest person in the room and right on the money," say clients.

Rachel Krevans is noted as a strong litigator in electronics and biosciences trials. Her recent highlights include a trial at the Federal Court of Appeals.

David Doyle represents biotech, pharmaceutical and technology companies in patent litigation and licensing disputes. He continues to build a strong reputation, with peers commenting that they "wouldn't hesitate to trust him with a heavy case." 

THE FIRM This firm concentrates on IP litigation matters, handling some of the most complex and high-stakes trials in the area. It has California offices in Newport Beach, Los Angeles, Century City, San Francisco and Silicon Valley, and clients involved in trials with multijurisdictional elements also benefit from the firm's global community of lawyers. Key clients include Google and Belkin International.

Sources say: "OMM worked hard and showed expertise and professionalism. We chose them for their reputation and would recommend them to others." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Mark Samuels focuses on patent litigation and the crossover between patent and antitrust. He recently led the team that successfully represented Top Victory Electronics in an enforcement proceeding before the ITC concerning an allegation of patent infringement.

Brian Berliner is a technology litigator whose practice includes patent litigation, prosecution and portfolio management. He was instrumental in the success for Top Victory Electronics, and also represents SAMSUNG.

THE FIRM This group handles patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret litigation, as well as contentious licensing negotiations. The firm is also recommended for handling patent reexaminations and interferences in front of the USPTO, and for its specialized internet safety and security practice. IP specialists are found in the firm's offices in Silicon Valley, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Current clients include Facebook, Oracle and Fujifilm.

Sources say: "Orrick has stood out from other firms by having a flexible approach to managing the litigation and a creative style in solving issues that have arisen." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS According to clients, Neel Chatterjee "is really tuned into the technology space, and has in-depth knowledge of patent law in a trial situation and the ability to think outside the box." He is recommended for his patent and trade secret litigation practice in Silicon Valley.

Silicon Valley-based Gary Weiss chairs the global IP group and represents clients such as Agilent Technologies and Brocade. He is respected for his expertise in trade secrets litigation.

Chris Ottenweller is highlighted for his practice representing technology companies in IP litigation. He has represented Agilent and Intel in separate trade secret disputes with Silvaco Data Systems.

Seasoned litigator William Anthony focuses on technology and high-stakes patent disputes, and remains a key adviser for clients.

San Francisco-based Annette Hurst enters the rankings having earned significant acclaim for her huge success on behalf of MGA Entertainment, in a case which involved a jury decision to transfer the Bratz brand from MGA to Mattel and award Mattel $100 million in damages, a successful appeal and then a second trial ending in victory for MGA and an award of $88.4 million in damages. "She is a genius – there is nobody as smart and tough as her," say commentators.

THE FIRM This team represents key computer and internet companies such as Sun Microsystems, eBay and Zynga in a wide range of IP matters, including patent litigation, trademarks, transactions and licensing. The group is a strong presence in the market, with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Palo Alto and Orange County.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Jeff Randall focuses on patent, trademark and trade secret cases, and splits his time between Palo Alto and Washington, DC. His most notable highlight of the past year was achieving a complete victory for Apple in the Eastern District of Texas, in its patent infringement case against Mirror Worlds.

THE FIRM Market sources admire this firm's successful track record, which has recently included winning two trials for Google in the Eastern District of Texas. The team is also noted for its success in the ITC, at summary judgment and on appeal, ensuring its leading position in the California IP market. It is at the center of the much-publicized 'smartphone wars', representing Motorola, HTC and SAMSUNG. The majority of the firm's IP lawyers are found in California, in offices in Silicon Valley, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Sources say: "A fine firm. Hiring them sends the message that you intend to fight."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Claude Stern cochairs the national IP practice and has vast experience in patent, trademark and copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation. His current clients include Skype, Ask.com and Folica.

Sources highlight Charles Verhoeven's "incredible presentation in court" and his "ability to communicate very difficult jargon in a way that is easy for a jury to understand." He is a central figure in the smartphone wars, having defended the Android system on behalf of Motorola, HTC and SAMSUNG.

John Quinn is a highly respected business trial lawyer who impresses sources with his prowess in high-stakes IP litigation.

Kevin Johnson joins the rankings, following client comments that "he is fantastic, always readily available and understands our company." He has an electrical engineering degree from Cornell and is currently representing SAMSUNG in its smartphone battles with Apple.  

THE FIRM This team specializes in patent prosecution, licensing and patent litigation, and many of the lawyers have science and engineering backgrounds. Recent highlights for the group include representing Motorola Mobility in its long-running multijurisdictional dispute with Microsoft. With offices in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, the firm is well placed to represent some of the biggest clients on the West Coast, including Google, Apple and Hewlett-Packard.

Sources say: "We are very pleased with the quality of work and responsiveness of the IP group at Ropes. Their experience and attention to detail are major factors." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Robert Goldman's recent highlights include representing Purdue Pharma in its Oxycontin antitrust litigation, and representing the Vertical Group in the Microsoft v i4i Supreme Court case. He is based in Palo Alto and has a strong reputation for trial and appeal work, particularly in the areas of pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

THE FIRM This firm has three offices in California, in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Palo Alto. The IP team primarily focuses on patent litigation, but also handles trademark and copyright disputes. Clients hail from the technology, cleantech and medical device industries, and include Research In Motion, Conceptus and Genentech.

Sources say: "Absolutely excellent lawyers with a strong commitment to quality, and a client focus." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Patricia Thayer is new to the rankings, having impressed sources who say she is "extraordinary in the bio space and always available to solve problems – working with her is an absolute delight." Her recent work includes representing Genentech in a declaratory judgment action concerning monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of breast cancer.

Also joining the tables this year, Jeffrey Olson is a favorite with clients, who "have great trust in his judgment and strategic thinking" and say he is "a fighter when it comes to litigation. These characteristics keep us coming back to him time and again." He acts for a range of biomedical, computer, electronics and telecom clients.

A new addition to the firm, Vernon Winters has a strong reputation within the life sciences community and is often engaged in high-profile work.

THE FIRM This full-service IP team offers great expertise in patent litigation, counseling, transactional advice, portfolio strategy advice and registration for trademarks and copyrights. The team represents all manner of clients across the scientific and technological industries, and its global presence is deemed particularly attractive by those with multijurisdictional concerns.

Sources say: "They've got the killer instinct." "I can't fault them for anything." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS James Elacqua earns praise for his patent litigation practice, which focuses on representing technology and life sciences companies including Medtronic, Synopsys and Microsoft. He recently represented Sandisk as plaintiff in a six-patent suit against Kingston Technology.

Andrew Thomases is recommended for patent and trade secret cases. His recent highlights include obtaining a victory for Hewlett-Packard in a dispute with WiAV Networks, concerning an alleged WiFi patent infringement. As well as wireless technology, he is experienced in cases involving computer technology, medical devices, semiconductors, analog circuits and water fabrication tools.

Clients applaud David Hansen as "an exceptional litigator and – just as importantly – a very good case management lawyer, a combination which can be rare. He is a practical man who is capable of reaching very creative settlements." Hansen is a key contact for SanDisk, and also acts for CTDI and Zynga.

THE FIRM Weil is a long-standing and highly respected name in complex, high-stakes IP disputes. Feedback this year has been dominated by the departure of Matt Powers to set up his own boutique, but sources believe it is too soon to assess the full impact of this move on the firm. The group is highlighted for its widespread trial experience and retains an impressive blue-chip client roster, including Cisco Systems and Microsoft. New clients include Intellectual Ventures and Hewlett-Packard.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Jared Bobrow chairs the national patent litigation practice and practices in patent, trademark and antitrust litigation. Sources are impressed with his recent work, which has included representing Micron in a dispute with Panavision, and say he is "emerging as a very capable lawyer." 

Edward Reines is "a thoughtful and reasonable guy who constructs clever arguments that we succeed upon," say clients. He remains an esteemed figure in the fields of hi-tech and life sciences representation.

THE FIRM This firm's teams in Silicon Valley and Los Angeles act for California companies and multinational clients on all IP prosecution, litigation and dispute resolution matters. The firm has a strong brand in Taiwan, and has hence developed a niche in representing Taiwanese technology companies being sued for patent infringement in the USA. The group is also recognized for its strength in representing companies in the technology, media and entertainment, consumer products and internet industries. Current clients include Panasonic, Marvell and ChiMei Innolux.

Sources say: "White & Case always gives an objective view of the law and the facts, responds in a punctual manner, gives comprehensive advice and displays good teamwork."  

KEY INDIVIDUALS Bijal Vakil is the executive partner in the firm's Silicon Valley office, and is the key contact.

THE FIRM This Silicon Valley practice continues to strengthen its offering, and has had a string of successes at the ITC over the past year for some of the world's largest hi-tech companies. Recent highlights include winning a summary judgment motion for Cisco Systems in the Eastern District of Texas, in a patent litigation brought by Network-1 Security Solutions. Other headline clients include Oracle and Intel.

Sources say: "It remains super – a top firm for top clients." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Practice head Mark Selwyn is recognized for his work with biomedical and electrical clients, and is also a respected arbitrator. He led the team acting for Cisco Systems, as mentioned above.

THE FIRM This firm caters mainly for clients in the life sciences and technology sectors, including Fortinek, Twitter and Amicus Therapeutics. The IP group handles trademark, copyright and patent litigation, as well as counseling and patent prosecution. The team recently lost a number of patent litigators to Latham & Watkins, most notably Ron Shulman, but continues to be involved in industry-leading matters such as defending Google and YouTube in the highly publicized case against Viacom.

KEY INDIVIDUALS David Kramer specializes in internet and copyright litigation, and was the lead partner for Google and YouTube in the dispute with Viacom.

John Slafsky is a leader in trademark, copyright and advertising law. He provides IP counsel to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and advises Diageo on IP and internet liability matters.

Since publication, Edward Poplawski has joined the firm from Sidley Austin. According to sources, Poplawski is "an incredibly knowledgeable, talented and creative partner." He is an expert in patent litigation.