International law firm McDermott Will & Emery welcomes Dr. Timothy (Tim) Best as a partner in its Intellectual Property (IP) Practice Group in Los Angeles. Tim is a trial lawyer whose patent litigation work focuses on biotechnology and life sciences and spans various technological fields, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, image processing, semiconductor manufacturing, and business methods.
“Tim’s extensive understanding of the life sciences industry and his strategic approach to complex IP issues will significantly enhance our capabilities and deepen our presence on the West Coast,” said William Gaede, head of McDermott’s global IP Practice Group.
Tim guides major pharmaceutical companies and drugmakers through all phases of high-stakes patent litigation. With extensive experience successfully defending against and asserting patent infringement claims, he has a proven track record of securing favorable rulings in complex patent disputes involving multibillion-dollar claims at trial and on appeal.
Outside of his practice, Tim teaches a course on IP litigation as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. Prior to law school, while earning his PhD in chemistry, Tim focused on synthesizing DNA-binding small molecules and evaluating their activity both in vitro and in vivo using various molecular and cellular biology techniques.
“McDermott’s IP team has an acute focus on life sciences litigation that cannot be found anywhere else in the industry,” said Tim. “I’m excited to join a firm with a strong commitment to innovation and excellence, along with the subject matter experience that compliments my practice.”
Tim’s arrival comes just weeks after Michael Sitzman, another prominent life sciences patent litigator, joined McDermott in San Francisco.
The Firm’s growing IP team represents clients at every stage of the IP life cycle, with skill and experience in both the boardroom and the courtroom. Our group includes more than 100 lawyers, scientific advisors, and patent agents globally who counsel industry leaders on strategic patent and trademark portfolio development; transactions, licensing, and monetization; and enforcement and litigation. Praised by clients for our ability to “handle any type of case or technology, no matter the complexity” (Chambers), McDermott’s IP team serves companies of all sizes spanning a variety of sectors, with a focus on life sciences and technology. We are recognized globally by Chambers, Legal 500, Best Law Firms, IAM Patent 1000, Managing IP, and World Trademark Review 1000.
McDermott’s global Life Sciences Group operates as a cross-border, interdisciplinary team, drawing upon lawyers from the top-ranked healthcare law practice to work at the juncture of health, technology, and life sciences. Among the team’s recent notable work, after three years of hard-fought litigation over foundational cancer testing patents, McDermott secured back-to-back wins on behalf of Natera, a global leader in cell-free DNA testing. A Delaware jury awarded the company $19.35 million. The team has also represented an array of clients globally with respect to FDA regulatory due diligence in the context of a variety of cross-border transactions, including Life Science Outsourcing’s acquisition of J-Pac Medical.
