Annie Huang

Annie Huang is a trial attorney with a core belief that the law is a tool to drive business and a passion for protecting intellectual property rights (patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets) through litigation, counseling and licensing. She works with her clients to develop creative and effective solutions for complex legal problems to help them achieve their business objectives.

Through representation of both plaintiffs and defendants in intellectual property and business disputes, Ms. Huang has helped resolve high-stakes disputes facing holders of a variety of intellectual property rights as well as accused infringers. Her experience encompasses matters involving a wide range of industries and markets including consumer electronics, medical devices, variable data printing, window frame technology, and pharmaceuticals. She has served as trial counsel and been a member of several trial teams in district courts and the International Trade Commission (ITC) that resulted in favorable outcomes for her clients, including successful resolutions before trial. She also has experience managing large case teams at every stage of litigation, from pre-suit, case-initiation, and discovery to dispositive motion practice, mediation, and trial.

Education

• University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D. (2003)
• University of California, Berkeley, B.A. (1998)

Languages

Representative Matters

Serving as lead defense counsel, reached a confidential and amicable settlement on behalf of a multinational materials technology company in a multi-jurisdictional trade secret and breach of contract litigation brought by a competitor. Dispute related to an M&A transaction under which Defendant had purchased certain business assets from Plaintiff. At stake were the Defendant’s rights to develop and introduce emissions control catalyst products into a growing, global market. Served as lead counsel in the U.S. litigation as well as in the arbitration that was pending in Sweden at the time of resolution.

Trial Counsel to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania in a patent infringement action against Eli Lilly and ImClone related to the manufacture and sale of Erbitux. Penn asserted US Patent No. 7,625,558 related to treatment of certain cancers using antibodies to erbB receptors followed by radiation therapy. The action was The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania v. Eli Lilly and Company, et al., No. 15-6133 (E.D. Pa). The case was resolved on confidential terms.

Represented Greenthread, LLC against Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., et al., in patent infringement litigation venued in the Eastern District of Texas. The case involved Greenthread’s assertion of four patents relating to the use of graded dopants in semiconductor devices, including DRAM, NAND flash, and image sensor chips. The case resolved favorably on confidential terms during expert discovery approximately 14 months from initiation of the litigation. Greenthread, LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., et al., No. 2:19-cv-00147-JRG (E.D. Tex.)

Represented Xerox in the defense of a patent infringement litigation brought by R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and in Xerox’s assertion of counterclaims in that same matter.  Technologies at issue include variable data printing software, raster image processing, and network communications. The matter resolved with a favorable settlement.

Obtained a grant of summary judgment of liability in copyright infringement litigation for a photographer.

Successfully enforced trademarks for a medical device company and an individual fitness trainer.

Defended medical device manufacturer in a patent infringement litigation that resulted in a favorable settlement before the start of discovery.

Defended large U.S. window manufacturer in a patent infringement litigation that resulted in a favorable settlement.

Trial counsel in Personal Audio LLC v. Apple Inc., a patent infringement case in which a Texas federal jury awarded our client, Personal Audio LLC, $8 million in damages after finding that Apple's iPods infringed our client's patent for an audio player that can download or receive navigable playlists.  The verdict was announced on July 8, 2011.  The court also awarded prejudgment interest in the amount of $4,182,331 for a total judgment of $12,182,331. 

Member of trial team in St. Clair Intellectual Property Consultants, Inc. v. Canon, Inc. et al., No. 03-241 (D. Del., filed February 28, 2003) a case in which a federal jury in Wilmington, Delaware awarded the firm's client, St. Clair, $34.7 million after a finding that Canon infringed four patents relating to digital camera technology. The verdict was announced on October 8, 2004.

Member of trial team in St. Clair Intellectual Property Consultants, Inc. v. Fuji, Ltd. et al., No. 03-241 (D. Del., filed February 28, 2003) a case in which a federal jury in Wilmington, Delaware awarded the firm's client, St. Clair, $3 million after a finding that Fuji infringed four patents relating to digital camera technology. The verdict was announced on October 25, 2004.

• Recipient of the "Asian Leadership Award," Profiles in Diversity Journal (2023)
• Named to "Notable Women in Law List," Crain's New York Business (2023)
• Named a "New York Super Lawyer," Super Lawyers (2013-2024)
• Named a "Notable Diverse Leader in Law," Crain's New York Business (2022)
• Named a “North Star Lawyer,” Minnesota State Bar Association (2015-2016)
• Named a "New York Rising Star," bySuper Lawyers (2011, 2012)*
• Named an "Up & Coming Attorney," by Minnesota Lawyer (2010)* 
• Recipient of the "Professional Excellence Award" from the Minnesota State Bar Association, awarded to a group of lawyers who represented survivors of the 35W Bridge Collapse on a pro bono basis (2009)

Professional

• American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Law Section
• Asian American Bar Association of New York
• American Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellows Program
• New York Intellectual Property Law Association
• Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Fellow (2011)
• Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, Board of Directors (2005-2011); Co-Chair of Diversity Committee (2005-2007); Vice President of Special Events (2007-2008); Co-Chair of Intellectual Property Practice Group (2008-2009); Co-Chair of Communications Committee (2010-2011)
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, Secretary (2005-2007); Advisory Board (2008-2010)

Speeches

• Mentoring Circles for the 2020s: Combatting Diverse Attorneys’ Professional Isolation – A Case Study
  Practising Law Institute (PLI) Diversity & Inclusion in Law Practice, Webinar (June 17, 2022)
• Attorney Fees in Patent Litigation
  Practising Law Institute (PLI) Intellectual Property Law Institute, Webinar (October 18, 2021) 
• Standard-Essential Patents: Navigating FRAND and Creating Value from SEP Portfolios
  Webinar, Robins Kaplan LLP, Minneapolis, Minnesota (February 13, 2020)
• Products Liability Implications of Product Innovations
  American Bar Association Regional CLE Program: Current Issues in Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, and Biotech Litigation, North Wales, Pennsylvania (November 9, 2018)
• Patent Panel
  The Future of IP and Technology Law Forum, Seattle, Washington (June 7, 2017)
• Protecting Innovation in a Digital World
  The Future of IP and Technology Law Forum, Palo Alto, California (May 21, 2017)
• Patents 101: What Can be Protected by Patent Rights?
  Intellectual Property Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of New York, New York, New York (February 5, 2015)
• Patents 101: What Can be Protected by Patent Rights?
  AABANY Intellectual Property Committee and NYCLA Entertainment, Media, Intellectual Property and Sports Committee, New York, New York (January 22, 2014)