Stephen’s breadth of experience spans over fifteen years, with a focus on all aspects of intellectual property counseling and litigation involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade dress, entertainment and publicity rights.
He has provided a variety of litigation services for multiple Internet-related companies and technologies, and has counseled various Internet and entertainment industry clients on a wide array of intellectual property matters.
Stephen’s litigation experience has involved numerous technologies within multiple industries, including computer hardware, software and peripherals, consumer and industrial electronics, integrated circuit fabrication, medical devices, Internet technologies, water treatment systems, respiratory and hearing protection products, tires and automotive aftermarket products, fashion and clothing, as well as various other consumer products and services.
In addition to being an active speaker on various intellectual property issues, Stephen has served as a guest lecturer on patent law at the UCLA School of Law, and has lectured on copyright and advertising law for Lorman Education's professional seminar series. He is a member of the ABA’s Intellectual Property Law section and the Italian-American Lawyers Association. He was designated a “Southern California Super Lawyers ‘Rising Star’ by Law & Politics and Los Angeles Magazine for five consecutive years.
Stephen earned his B.S. in electrical engineering with high distinction from the University of Virginia, and received his J.D. from the UCLA School of Law, where he served as editor of the UCLA Law Review.
Stephen’s background includes prior professional affiliations with Foley & Lardner (Los Angeles) and Knobbe Martens (Orange County).
- B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Virginia, 1991
- J.D., UCLA School of Law, 1995; Editor, UCLA Law Review
- Adjunct Lecturer on Patent Litigation, UCLA School of Law (2005-present)
- Southern California Super Lawyers "Rising Star," “Law & Politics” and “Los Angeles Magazine” (5 consecutive years)
- Member, American Bar Association-Intellectual Property Law section
- Member, Italian-American Lawyers Association
- The AnTerra Group, Inc. v. Earthbound Farms, Inc. et al. (San Benito County Superior Court)
- Recently won a TRO as lead counsel for Plaintiff AnTerra in trade secret action, enjoining Defendants (represented by Cooley Godward) from misappropriating client’s trade secrets relating to innovative water treatment technology used in organic produce washing and sanitization systems.
- General Motors Corporation v. Lucchi R. Elettromeccanica s.r.l. et al. (C.D. Cal.): Settled major patent/trade secret action on day before trial as lead counsel for Defendant Lucchi, an Italian developer and manufacturer of next-generation AFPM electric wheel motors. Despite claim by GM (represented by Kirkland & Ellis) for damages in the multi-millions, successfully negotiated a “walk-away” in part because of aggressive pursuit of several key counterclaims.
- Intergraph Hardware Technologies Corporation v. Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. et al. (N.D. Cal.)
- Achieved favorable Markman ruling in patent action related to multiprocessor cache memory architecture technology on behalf of Toshiba Defendants, negating claim for $100+ million in damages by Plaintiff (represented by Robins Kaplan).
- TransCore, LP v. SCS Corporation et al. (S.D. Cal.): Achieved favorable Markman ruling for Plaintiff patentee, resulting in settlement of action against Defendants (represented by Baker & McKenzie) related to automatic vehicle identification RFID transponder technology.
- Orion IP, LLC v. Briggs & Stratton Corporation et al. (E.D. Tex.): Negotiated well below “cost of litigation” settlement on behalf of Defendant Briggs & Stratton in business method patent action by notorious patent-holding Plaintiff which named 60+ different Fortune 500 defendants.
- MyMail, Ltd. v. United Online, Inc. et al. (E.D. Tex.): In one of the first such rulings from the Eastern District of Texas, achieved summary judgment of non-infringement in patent action on behalf of Defendants NetZero and related entities, thereby defeating action of Plaintiff (represented by McKool Smith).
- Yokohama Tire Corporation v. South China Rubber Company et al. (C.D. Cal.): Successfully negotiated settlement terminating importation of knock-off tires by Defendants (represented by Greenberg Traurig).
- Bacou-Dalloz USA Safety, Inc. v. Aearo Corporation (S.D. Ind.): Successfully negotiated multi-million dollar settlement in favor of client Bacou-Dalloz (now Sperian Hearing Protection), ending series of copending patent and trademark lawsuits with chief competitor Aearo (represented by Kirkland & Ellis).
- Patent Category Corporation v. Worldwide Creations, LLC et al. (C.D. Cal.): Successfully licensed client PCC’s patent portfolio (via settlement) to a series of infringers in various consumer products markets.
- X-Cyte, Inc. v. TransCore, LP (S.D. Cal.): Defeated unfair competition action during deposition cross-examination of Plaintiff by adducing admissions revealing no basis in fact for claims against client TransCore.
- F&G Research, Inc. v. KYE International Corporation (S.D. Fla.): Successfully transferred patent action from Florida to California, providing substantial leverage to reach a favorable settlement for client KYE.
- Contributing Co-Author, Patent Litigation Strategies Handbook, American Bar Association/ Intellectual Property Law Publications
- The Right(s) of Publicity in California: Is Three Really Greater Than One?, UCLA Entertainment Law Review, Volume 2, Number 1 (Winter 1995)