Pairing an ‘unparalleled combination of legal and business acumen,’ Morrison Foerster is the firm of choice for several global pharmaceutical companies facing patent challenges, whether looking to gain patent coverage for their novel drugs, or to enforce existing patents via the courts. The January 2023 merger with litigation boutique Durie Tangri saw experienced patent litigators Daralyn Durie, Adam Brausa, both in San Francisco, and Los Angeles-based Kira Davis join the practice, further enhancing its ability to take on major patent disputes concerning cancer treatments, biosimilars, small molecules and more. Practice head Michael Ward maintains a practice between San Francisco and Boston, overseeing patent portfolios for both drug developers and clients active in the agriculture field, whom he advises on protection strategies and licensing for their unique plants. In Palo Alto, Catherine Polizzi and Janet Xiao assist clients with the development of their patent portfolios, as it pertains to therapies for cancer, autoimmune diseases and gene therapy, among others. Based out of Washington DC, Stacy Amin handles FDA regulatory issues, including enforcement actions.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'I've interacted with three attorneys at MoFo and have been impressed with their knowledge and expertise. They are thorough and helpful, and most of all, they are very quick in their response times.'
- 'Each individual is highly competent. The team is incredibly responsive. They really care about the client and go out of their way to provide comprehensive, business-relevant answers.'
- 'I use the IP prosecution team. It is a very diverse team, which is incredibly unique in this area of law.'
- 'MoFo distinguishes itself through its unparalleled combination of legal and business acumen, innovative practices, and a client-centered approach. The team's strengths lie in their ability to integrate legal expertise with strategic business insights.'
- 'They were very professional, fast and available to help me close contracts.'
- 'Experienced, thoughtful, responsive, efficient. Morrison Foerster does everything well. They are as skillful as any group I have worked with.'
- 'The team at Morrison Foerster has strong technical and legal expertise. Customer service is excellent.'
- 'Catherine Polizzi and her team are knowledgeable and detail-oriented.'
Key clients
- 10x Genomics
- 9amHealth
- Ally Bridge Group
- Alpine Immune Sciences
- Arcellx
- Avadel Pharmaceuticals
- Bard
- Bayer
- BeiGene
- Biopharmaceutical Research Company
- Bristol-Myers Squibb (Celgene Corporation, Juno Therapeutics, Abraxis Biosciences)
- Carlsmed, Inc.
- CG Oncology, Inc.
- Chugai Pharmaceutical
- Cornell University
- Crinetics Pharmaceuticals
- CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Limited
- Dewpoint Therapeutics
- DNA Genotek/OraSure Technologies, Inc
- Driscoll’s
- Dynavax Technologies
- Eureka Therapeutics, Inc.
- Evolve Biosystems
- Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research
- Geneos Therapeutics, Inc
- General Catalyst
- Genentech
- Glenmark Pharmaceuticals
- ImmuneBridge
- insitro
- Johnson & Johnson
- Lyndra Therapeutics
- Maze Therapeutics
- McKesson Corporation
- NKGen Biotech
- Novartis
- Nuvation Bio Inc.
- MyChem
- NextSense, Inc
- Onc.AI
- Ono Pharmaceutical
- Orbimed Advisors
- Pillar Biosciences
- Pliant Therapeutics
- Rakuten Medical
- RheumaGen
- Sama Therapeutics
- Sandoz
- Santen Pharmaceutical
- Seagen
- Sequlite Genomics
- Shoreline Biosciences
- SNIPR Biome
- Spark Therapeutics
- Theonys, Inc
- Triastek, Inc.
- Trio Pharmaceuticals, Inc
- TRIO Pharmaceuticals
- Volastra Therapeutics
Work highlights
- Advised Seagen on its patent strategy for monoclonal antibody-based therapies for the treatment of cancer.
- Representing Bristol-Myers Squibb and its subsidiaries Celgene and Juno Therapeutics on patent issues.
- Represented Evolve Biosystems and the Regents of the University of California in their litigation against Abbott Laboratories in the Northern District of Illinois.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Michael Ward