Arrival of premier litigation boutique will further strengthen Morrison Foerster’s IP, complex civil litigation, and trial capabilities and position at the cutting-edge of technology and life sciences
SAN FRANCISCO (October 12, 2022) – Leading global law firm Morrison Foerster and premier litigation boutique Durie Tangri today announced that Durie Tangri will join Morrison Foerster effective January 1, 2023. Durie Tangri’s lawyers will further strengthen Morrison Foerster’s intellectual property (IP), complex civil litigation, and trial capabilities and its leading position at the cutting-edge of technology and life sciences. Thirty-six Durie Tangri lawyers are anticipated to join Morrison Foerster, including 12 partners.
Durie Tangri has one of the nation’s premier trial practices and represents clients in diverse areas of complex litigation, including IP (patent, trademark, and copyright), professional liability, privacy, white-collar crime and investigations, contract and commercial matters, and class actions, as well as appellate matters. Recent notable representations include several post-COVID jury trial victories in 2021 and early 2022, including: a defense verdict for Activision Blizzard in a copyright case over its blockbuster Call of Duty Black Ops 4 videogame; a defense verdict for Redbubble in a copyright and trademark infringement case brought by Atari; and a defense verdict in a patent case for Aptiv over USB technology.
Durie Tangri was co-founded in San Francisco in 2009 by Daralyn Durie, Ragesh K. Tangri, Mark A. Lemley, and Joseph (Joe) C. Gratz, among others. In just over a decade, Durie Tangri has seen significant growth and considerably expanded its client base and capabilities, opening a second office in Los Angeles in 2018. The firm was named IP Boutique of the Year by Managing IP and Intellectual Property Firm of the Year by Benchmark Litigation in 2022. Its partners have also been widely recognized as preeminent practitioners in their fields. Founders Daralyn Durie, Ragesh K. Tangri, Mark A. Lemley, and Joe C. Gratz are ranked by Chambers, with Durie ranked among Band 1 in IP nationally; Tangri ranked among Band 1 in IP: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets Litigation in California; Lemley ranked among Band 2 in IP: Patent Litigation in California; and Gratz ranked among Band 2 in IP: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets Litigation nationally.
Durie Tangri has an equally impressive bench, representing a next generation of trial talent. Benchmark Litigation named Adam Brausa and Kira Davis Litigation Stars, with Davis also noted as a Patent Star by Managing IP. The Daily Journal named Tim Saulsbury and Eugene Novikov among California’s Top 40 Lawyers Under 40, and Benchmark Litigation recognized the pair on its 40 & Under Hotlist. LMG Lifesciences ranks Brausa and Davis for Patent Litigation nationally, and The American Lawyer shortlisted Novikov for Young Lawyer of the Year Finalist.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Durie Tangri team to Morrison Foerster,” said Eric McCrath, chair of Morrison Foerster. “Their stellar IP, complex civil litigation and trial law capabilities will add significant strength and talent to our ranks on the West Coast. Our shared commitment to serving clients on the forefront of technology and life sciences, while staying true to our values, in particular our commitment to diversity and inclusion, make this the perfect match for our firm.”
“Providing access to Morrison Foerster’s global platform will be transformational for our lawyers’ ability to grow their practices and is a natural next step in our evolution,” said Daralyn Durie. “Morrison Foerster’s deep roots in the Bay Area, continued tradition of leadership in the tech and life sciences sectors, coupled with its well-respected bench of IP lawyers, and premier litigation department all make MoFo the ideal fit for us. We look forward to carrying on its tradition of trial excellence.” Ragesh K. Tangri added: “We are proud of what we have built and achieved in the last several years at Durie Tangri. We look forward to bringing our next generation of diverse trial talent and shared values to the firm, and focusing on developing the best trial teams for clients across MoFo’s global platform and scale.”
Morrison Foerster is widely recognized as a litigation powerhouse and IP and patent leader. In the last five years, Morrison Foerster lawyers have litigated more than 300 patent disputes in the most active district courts in the U.S., including the Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, the District of Delaware, and the Northern and Central Districts of California. Further, the firm’s more than 115 patent attorneys and patent agent/scientific analysts offer clients around the world unrivaled industry and technical experience.
In 2019, Morrison Foerster opened an office in Boston, significantly strengthening its IP capabilities on the East Coast. Earlier this year, the firm opened an office in Austin with an initial focus on advising companies, including emerging growth companies, and investors in the technology, life sciences, and healthcare sectors, on IP litigation and transactional matters. As part of the opening, leading IP practitioners Brian C. Nash and Aaron G. Fountain joined the firm’s IP Litigation Group.
