Farella Braun + Martel’s Rod Thompson Named Among the Daily Journal’s Top 75 IP Litigators in California

SAN FRANCISCO (April 06, 2011):  Farella Braun + Martel announces that Partner Rod Thompson has been named among the Daily Journal's "Top 75 Intellectual Property Litigators" in the state for 2011. 

The Daily Journal recognized Thompson for leading a team of Farella lawyers in obtaining a rare early summary judgment motion in a patent litigation action filed in Chicago asserting a patent over an "allowance" card for teens that can be controlled by the parent.  It is usually difficult to prove a patent is invalid because the law imposes a high burden on the defendant to prove its case by "clear and convincing evidence."  Recently, Thompson was also the lead lawyer in wining a rare summary judgment motion in a copyright action in Los Angeles for an ISP based on defects in the DMCA takedown notice and in another patent case obtaining a writ of mandamus from the Federal Circuit ordering the transfer of a multiple defendant patent case from the Eastern District of Texas to the Northern District of California. 

A second honor for Thompson, he was a Daily Journal Top IP Litigator in 2009.

Thompson is a trial lawyer with more than 30 years of experience in high-stakes civil litigation and trials.  His practice emphasizes complex commercial litigation, including intellectual property and antitrust cases.  He is a speaker and author on intellectual property, antitrust and efficient dispute resolution and his expert commentary is frequently quoted in the media.  A leader in the legal community, he is currently president of the Board of Directors for Legal Community Against Violence and has held high level positions in the State Bar Litigation Section and the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA).  Thompson serves on his firm's Advisory Board and is charged with overseeing firm policy and management.  He also serves as a state court judge pro tem and a neutral arbitrator and mediator in intellectual property cases for the U.S. District Court (San Francisco), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR Institute) and the American Arbitration Association.  Thompson earned his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1980 (Order of the Coif).

Farella Braun + Martel represents clients throughout the United States and abroad in sophisticated business transactions and high-stakes commercial, civil and criminal litigation. Founded in 1962, the firm is headquartered in San Francisco and maintains an office in the Napa Valley focused on the wine industry. Farella Braun + Martel lawyers are known for their imaginative legal solutions, dynamism and intellectual creativity. With an unwavering service ethic and interdisciplinary team approach, the firm is committed to advancing clients' objectives in the most effective, coordinated and efficient manner. Farella Braun + Martel is a green business. www.fbm.com

Contacts:
Melinda Hepp / Traci Stuart                              
Blattel Communications                                    
415.397.4811                                                    
[email protected] / [email protected]           

Cheryl Loof
Farella Braun + Martel LLP
415.954.4433   
[email protected]

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