Fish & Richardson Principal Juanita Brooks named one of the 20 Most Influential Women in IP Law

Fish & Richardson IP litigator Juanita Brooks has been named one of the 20 Most Influential Women in IP Law by Law360, a leading legal industry news source. Law360 noted Brooks “playing a key role in a precedent-setting decision on patent re-examination and consistently racking up trial wins.”

As recounted in a profile published by Law360, the U.S. Supreme Court, in May 2014,declined to review a Federal Circuit ruling in favor of Brooks’ client Fresenius USA Inc. that negated a $23.5 million verdict against the company. In the case, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office invalidated the patents-in-suit during a re-examination while a damages question in the district court was still pending. The case, which set an important precedent in the evolving area of patent law, was hard fought. It included two trials, three Federal Circuit appeals and a USPTO re-examination before ultimately freeing Fresenius from a potential $120 million liability.

Brooks was also heralded for a January 2014 decision she won for client Allergan Inc. that protected $600 million in annual sales of the glaucoma drug Lumigan by blocking competitors from selling a generic version of the drug until 2027. In 2013, she had a trial victory defending another Allergan glaucoma drug, Combigan, that resulted in barring four generic drug makers from selling versions of the drug until 2022 and protecting $300 million in annual sales for Allergan.

Brooks, who is based in Fish & Richardson’s Southern California office in San Diego, has a nationally-recognized trial practice, specializing in complex intellectual property litigation. She has handled more than 150 trials in her career, and her average yearly caseload includes nearly 30 active patent cases. Her litigation experience includes numerous cases involving intellectual property, product liability and qui tam litigation.

“Juanita is hands down one of the top patent litigators of today,” states Ann Cathcart Chaplin, Fish & Richardson’s litigation practice group leader. “Not only has she helped define U.S. patent law, she has been an incredible teacher and mentor to so many who have been fortunate enough to work with her.”

The complete Law360 profile of Brooks is available here.