Mike Morin, a nationally recognized first-chair litigator, represents clients across industries in high-stakes IP trials and appeals. He serves as Global Vice Chair of the Litigation & Trial Department. He previously served as Global Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property Litigation Practice and as Global Co-Chair of the Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Group.

Mike represents leading companies — from start-ups to global leaders — in their most critical intellectual property matters, including multi-billion dollar cases involving many of the world’s best-selling drugs, medical devices, consumer products, and software products. He has led some of the highest-profile patent cases in the country, particularly in the life sciences arena.

From the start of any engagement, Mike focuses on understanding a client’s business and goals — both for a specific litigation and as part of a long-term strategy. He develops early game plans and then leads teams to execute on those plans in trial, arbitration, or on appeal. He has developed an impressive track record of wins, and a roster of clients that he has successfully served for decades.

Complementing his trial and appellate work, Mike advises clients on their IP portfolios and strategies, assists with licensing and transactional issues, and counsels clients on legal positions, responsibilities, and risk management.

Mike is widely recognized as a preeminent trial lawyer.

  • Praised as a “natural-born leader” and a “talented, extremely clever, hardworking and experienced lawyer” who “you can trust with your crown jewel assets.” He has the ability to “stand up in court and present complex subject matter in an even-handed, compelling way.” One client notes, “The litigation profession is becoming increasingly uncivil, so it’s great when you get to deal with someone like Mike.” – IAM Patent 1000 2016-2021
  • A “highly esteemed life sciences trial lawyer who is entrusted by some of the world’s leading companies” and a “down-to-earth and likeable guy in court who is brilliant at simplifying complex technical material” and “maintains excellent command of his team and has real presence in the courtroom.” – IAM Patent 1000 2019-2023 (Global Leader and Gold ranking each year)
  • “Fantastic oral advocate in court or arbitrations. Masterful at telling story and integrating complex facts and legal principles. Excellent overall team leader with focus on big picture and the client’s goals. Excellent writer too. Very ethical.” The Legal 500 US 2020
  • Recommended Lawyer for Life Sciences – The Legal 500 US 2017-2023
  • Litigator of the Week, February 8, 2019, for MorphoSys v. Janssen win involving J&J’s blockbuster Darzalex® product – American Lawyer
  • Runner-up for American Lawyer’s Litigator of the Week for multiple matters 2019-2023
  • Winner, General Patent Litigator of the Year – District of Columbia – LMG Life Sciences 2020, 2022 (shortlisted 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023)
  • IP Star and shortlisted for Outstanding Litigator: District of Columbia – Managing Intellectual Property 2019-2021, 2023
  • Global Thought Leader 2023, Recommended for Patents, Patent Litigation – Who’s Who Legal 2016-2023
  • Litigation Star – Benchmark Litigation 2020-2023
  • Shortlisted for Intellectual Property Litigator of the Year for the 2022 Benchmark Litigation US Awards
  • Named among the 500 Leading Litigators in America – Lawdragon 2022, 2023
  • Ranked by Chambers USA 2023 in Band 2 for DC Intellectual Property: Patent and Band 3 for Nationwide Life Sciences: IP/Patent Lit

Mike also devotes considerable time to pro bono activities, representing disabled veterans in civil matters and indigent defendants in criminal cases.

Mike is a faculty member of the Trial Advocacy College at the University of Virginia , and led the Working Group on parallel district court and PTO proceedings for the Sedona Conference.

Mike's representative experience includes serving as lead counsel for:

  • AbbVie in numerous litigations involving Humira®, the world’s best-selling drug, resulting in multiple trial, arbitration, and appellate wins
  • AbbVie in more than a dozen litigations involving numerous other innovative drugs, including Viekira®, Zemplar®, and Imbruvica®
  • Abbott in more than a dozen litigations involving numerous innovative medical device products (continuous glucose monitors, stents, catheters, mitral clips, heart valves, laser surgery devices, ICDs, pacemakers, and other products), resulting in multiple trial, arbitration, and appellate wins, as well as a US$400 million settlement involving coronary stents
  • Janssen (a Johnson & Johnson company) in litigation involving its innovative Darzalex® product, resulting in a complete win on summary judgment, and Litigator of the Week honors in the American Lawyer
  • J&J in multiple other litigations, including a multi-national patent and copyright case involving cataract laser surgery products, litigation regarding its blockbuster Stelara®  drug, and litigation involving other innovative pharma products
  • Regeneron in multiple matters, including a patent suit involving its groundbreaking antibody treatment for COVID-19
  • Stryker in multiple patent suits, involving stents and aneurysm-treatment devices
  • Eli Lilly in multiple patent-related matters
  • Intellia Therapeutics in multiple matters relating to CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology
  • Adobe in litigation involving its market-leading Acrobat® product
  • SAP in multiple patent infringement cases involving its market-leading business software
  • Neurocrine in litigation involving its innovative Elagolix® product
  • Quest Integrity in litigation involving furnace inspection technology
  • Astellas in litigation involving stem cells

Thought Leadership

Co-author, “Commentary on Patent Litigation Best Practices: Parallel USPTO Proceedings Chapter (“Stage Two”),” The Sedona Conference Working Group Series (July 2017) 

Bar Qualification

  • District of Columbia
  • Illinois
  • US Patent and Trademark Office

Education

  • JD, George Washington University Law School, 1995
    Order of the Coif, with honors
  • BS in Industrial Engineering, Purdue University, 1992