Foley Adds Five Partners in California, Strengthening Innovative Technology and Health Care & Life Sciences Capabilities
Firm Bolsters Intellectual Property Offerings with Strategic Additions in Two Offices
Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that it has significantly expanded its California presence with the addition of five partners to its Intellectual Property Department. John Schnurer, Louise Lu, Kevin Patariu, and Miguel Bombach join the firm’s IP Litigation Practice Group and Innovative Technology Sector in San Diego. Tom Anderton joins the firm’s Chemical, Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Practice Group and Health Care & Life Sciences Sector in San Francisco.
Schnurer, Lu, Patariu, and Bombach come from Perkins Coie and bring extensive capabilities in patent litigation, including Section 337 U.S. International Trade Commission investigations, post-grant proceedings, and IP portfolio management. They advise clients across a range of industries, including semiconductors, electronics, telecommunications, and software.
“We are pleased to welcome this exceptional group to Foley after having been in discussions with them for a long time. Their practices seamlessly align with our broader strategic plan, and their collective experience further solidifies our capabilities in the Innovative Technology Sector and our expertise in patent litigation, particularly before the U.S. ITC,” said Daljit Doogal, Foley chairman and CEO. “Their arrival also underscores our commitment to expanding our presence in Southern California and to continue delivering excellent service to our clients.”
The group brings significant experience managing high-stakes matters in federal courts and before the International Trade Commission and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, focusing on patent disputes, strategic IP counseling, and licensing. Recognized both nationally and internationally, they have collectively handled over 70 Section 337 investigations and more than 270 inter partes review petitions on behalf of both petitioners and patent owners.
“We spoke with multiple firms over the past four months, and throughout the process, it became clear that Foley was the best fit for us,” said Schnurer. “The firm’s strengths and leading market position in intellectual property and the Innovative Technology Sector, along with its national platform and collaborative, client-focused culture, align perfectly with what we were looking for and our practices. We are thrilled to join Foley and start working with our new colleagues across the firm.”
Anderton comes from K&L Gates and advises domestic and international companies, including startups, on transactional and intellectual property matters, particularly in the life sciences, biopharmaceuticals, and medical device industries. He focuses on patent procurement, portfolio creation and monetization, and drafting and negotiating complex and simple agreements, including licensing, R&D, manufacturing, distribution, financing, and M&A.
“Tom is a strong addition to our firm, and we are excited to welcome him. As a former life sciences executive, he intimately understands the business and IP needs of life science companies with his extensive experience in technology transactions and IP counseling. His joining enhances our ability to support clients in these high-growth areas, both in the Bay Area and beyond,” said Doogal.
Anderton commented, “Foley was often my go-to firm during my time in-house at several life sciences companies. Now, it’s an especially exciting time to join Foley with its established reputation in the Health Care & Life Sciences Sector and strong IP capabilities. I’m looking forward to contributing to the firm’s continued success.”
The arrival of these five partners enhances Foley’s national Intellectual Property Department, which includes over 300 dedicated professionals who advise global clients in a wide range of industries, and bolsters Foley’s ability to deliver business solutions that define and protect clients’ innovations and brands.
Doogal added, “This is a noteworthy period of strategic growth for Foley in California and our IP group in general. The arrival of these partners follows directly on the heels of other recent additions. All of these hires reflect our deliberate, long-term commitment to strengthening our presence and capabilities across key markets and sectors to support the evolving needs of our clients.”
Tom Anderton – Chemical, Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Practice, San Francisco
Anderton advises companies in the life sciences, biopharmaceutical, and medical device sectors on a wide range of transactional and intellectual property matters. His experience includes managing complex technology transactions, licensing, and patent procurement, as well as providing strategic counsel on patent portfolios and cross-border matters, particularly in China and Europe. Anderton has a strong track record in drafting and prosecuting patents and advising clients on freedom to operate, infringement avoidance, and patent monetization.
John Schnurer – IP Litigation Practice Group, San Diego and Washington, D.C.*
Schnurer, former co-chair of the ITC Litigation Practice at Perkins Coie, has extensive experience in patent litigation, post-grant proceedings, and portfolio due diligence. He has handled numerous jury and bench trials, including patent cases, and has litigated numerous Section 337 investigations before the U.S. International Trade Commission. With a background in electrical engineering, Schnurer provides strategic IP counseling on patent infringement and validity for clients across various industries. He also has experience representing international clients, including those from Taiwan, China, Korea, and Japan.
Louise Lu – IP Litigation Practice Group, San Diego
Lu is a seasoned patent litigator with significant experience in patent infringement cases, particularly before the U.S. International Trade Commission and federal district courts. She also focuses on patent invalidity proceedings and post-grant matters before the Patent Trial and Appeals Board (PTAB), including inter partes reviews. Lu advises clients on IP licensing and standard-essential patents across diverse technologies, including wireless, AI, encryption, and semiconductor design. She has represented clients ranging from startups to large companies in both the U.S. and Asia.
Kevin Patariu – IP Litigation Practice Group, San Diego
Patariu’s practice focuses on IP litigation, patent post-grant proceedings, data privacy, and cybersecurity counseling. Formerly co-chair of the ITC Litigation Practice at Perkins Coie, he has litigated numerous Section 337 investigations before the U.S. International Trade Commission, including serving as lead counsel on three consecutive wins in competitor investigations in 2022-24. Patariu’s performance in Section 337 investigations has been recognized nationally and internationally. He served as counsel in over 75 IPR proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Patent Trial and Appeals Board (PTAB). His practice also includes trademark, trade secret, and copyright disputes, as well as due diligence, freedom-to-operate investigations, and patent and trademark prosecution.
Miguel Bombach – IP Litigation Practice Group, San Diego
Bombach tries and litigates patent cases in federal courts and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). He has tried several federal jury trials and has led numerous patents to final resolution at the PTAB for both patent owners and challengers. Bombach has litigated more than 100 cases across a range of technical fields, including LED lighting, power converters, memories, semiconductor devices, wireless data transmission systems (OFDM), and other computer-related fields.
*Schnurer is not admitted to practice in Washington, D.C.; his office in D.C. is limited to his practice before the USPTO and the International Trade Commission.
About Foley & Lardner LLP
Foley & Lardner LLP is a preeminent law firm that stands at the nexus of the Energy, Health Care and Life Sciences, Innovative Technology, and Manufacturing Sectors. We look beyond the law to focus on the constantly evolving demands facing our clients and act as trusted business advisors to deliver creative, practical, and effective solutions. Our 1,100 lawyers across 26 offices worldwide partner on the full range of engagements from corporate counsel to intellectual property work and litigation support, providing our clients with a one-team solution to all their needs. For nearly two centuries, Foley has maintained its commitment to the highest level of innovative legal services and to the stewardship of our people, firm, clients, and the communities we serve.
