ORANGE COUNTY / SEATTLE, February 10, 2025: Deepening the firm’s intellectual property (IP) practice, Morgan Lewis welcomes a five-partner IP litigation team on the West Coast—Ali Razai, Benjamin Anger, Benjamin Everton, Brandon Smith, and Jacob Peterson. The group’s work includes patent and trademark disputes in state and federal district and appeals courts, and before the International Trade Commission (ITC) and the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), with deep experience in the technology, life sciences, retail, and consumer products sectors. Arriving from the IP litigation boutique firm of Knobbe Martens, Ali, Ben A., Ben E., and Brandon will be resident in the firm’s Orange County office, with Jacob resident in the firm’s Seattle office.
“California and the Pacific Northwest are two regions at the forefront of innovation, where companies face mounting pressures to protect their technologies, brands, and designs while contending with increased regional, national, and international competition,” said Firm Chair Jami McKeon. “This team’s experience in resolving complex patent and trademark cases—from medical devices to software to consumer product innovations—creates fresh opportunities to strengthen our clients’ market positions and unlock new growth.”
“The growth of our global platform—particularly along the US West Coast, in the UK, and across the EU—underscores how we align with our clients, who rarely operate in silos or single jurisdictions. The addition of this five-partner team extends the capabilities of our 200-plus lawyer IP team, including many with technical and scientific backgrounds, adds immediate industry depth, and contributes a proven track record that enhances the capabilities and value we bring to clients,” said Louis W. Beardell, Jr., leader of Morgan Lewis’s global IP practice.
Morgan Lewis’s IP practice continues to experience considerable growth and strategic expansion in key global markets, particularly with patent litigation capabilities. Recent additions include partners Sarah Guske in San Francisco; Tim Powell and Hiroshi Sheraton in London; Alexander Ritter, Dr. Alexander Klett, and Dr. Christoph Mikyska in Munich; and Mathilde Carle, who joined on January 1 as part of a 54-lawyer, multi-practice team in Paris.
About the Team
Ali Razai is a distinguished litigator with an extensive record of accomplishment in high-stakes situations across a broad range of issues, including patents, trademarks, trade secrets, false advertising, unfair competition, and breach of contract. He represents biotechnology, medical device, pharmaceutical, green technology, consumer product, and mechanical device companies, among others, before federal district courts, federal appellate courts, the ITC, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and arbitration panels. Ali’s background in molecular biology and prior experience as an antibody engineer strengthens his ability to address complex IP challenges.
Benjamin Anger focuses on utility patents, design patents, trademarks, trade dress, unfair competition, and breach of contract. Ben counsels clients across a broad range of industries including life sciences, chemistry, medical device, and consumer products. Ben’s chemical engineering background and experience in consulting enhance his ability to serve clients in sectors such as life sciences, healthcare, and consumer product manufacturing.
Benjamin Everton focuses his practice on disputes involving patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and licensing agreements, representing clients in IP disputes before federal district courts, the ITC, and the PTAB. He has extensive experience representing both patent owners and petitioners in inter partes review proceedings. His mechanical engineering background bolsters his work for clients across industries, including medical devices, consumer electronics, automotive, sporting goods, and product manufacturing.
Brandon Smith represents clients in IP litigation and counsels on IP protection and enforcement. His practice focuses on high-stakes patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, false advertising, unfair competition, and breach of contract disputes. Brandon advocates for clients in federal district courts, US courts of appeals, and the ITC. His biomedical engineering background equips him to address technical challenges within legal matters for clients in industries such as medical devices and consumer products.
Jacob Peterson represents clients in IP disputes and provides strategic counsel on IP protection. His practice focuses on patent matters before federal courts, the PTAB, and the ITC. He advises clients across diverse industries, including consumer products, medical devices, and robotics. With a strong technical and business background, Jacob helps clients integrate patents as a key component of their business strategy.