"Truly an exceptional trial lawyer... one of the best cross examiners I have seen and has a great rapport with the judges. He's someone you can trust in bet-the-company litigation."
Chambers USA 2024
"One of the best IP litigators I have ever worked with. A superior cross-examiner."
Chambers USA 2024
"An expert in life sciences patent disputes."
The Legal 500 US 2024
"Mike is incredibly strategic and fantastic in front of juries."
Chambers USA 2023
"Michael has done remarkable work for us."
Chambers USA 2023
"He is fully dedicated to the case, listens and adapts based on our business needs and goals, is practical and honest in his advice, and ensures that the team is top notch."
Chambers USA 2022
"Michael is a quick study, persuasive and good with both clients and the court."
Chambers USA 2022
"He's terrific and highly thought of."
Chambers USA 2021
"An outstanding litigator."
Chambers USA 2020
Litigation Star
Benchmark Litigation 2025
Profile
Mike Morin, a nationally recognized first-chair litigator, represents clients across industries in high-stakes IP trials and appeals. He serves as Global Chair of Latham & Watkins’ Intellectual Property Litigation Practice. He previously served as Global Vice Chair of the Litigation & Trial Department and 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.
A “masterful life sciences litigator” and a “highly esteemed life sciences trial lawyer who is entrusted by some of the world’s leading companies.” 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 2019-2024 (Global Leader and Gold ranking each year)
Described as an “exceptional litigator” and “an expert in life sciences patent disputes” – The Legal 500 US 2024
Recommended Lawyer for Life Sciences – The Legal 500 US 2017-2024
Litigator of the Week, January 9, 2025, for Nippon Shinyaku v. Sarepta jury win zeroing out a US$290 million patent infringement claim and winning a US$116 million lost profits award – American Lawyer
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 2019-2025
Winner, General Patent Litigator of the Year – District of Columbia – LMG Life Sciences 2020, 2022, 2024 (shortlisted 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023)
IP Star and shortlisted for Outstanding Litigator: District of Columbia – Managing Intellectual Property 2019-2021, 2023-2024
Global Thought Leader 2023, Recommended for Patents, Patent Litigation – Who’s Who Legal 2016-2024
Litigation Star – Benchmark Litigation 2020-2025
Shortlisted for Intellectual Property Litigator of the Year for the 2022 Benchmark Litigation US Awards
Named among the 500 Leading Litigators in America – Lawdragon 2022-2025
Ranked by Chambers USA 2024 both for DC Intellectual Property and 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.
Experience
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 dozens of litigations involving other innovative drugs, including Viekira®, Zemplar®, and Imbruvica®
Abbott in dozens of litigations involving 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
Sarepta in litigation involving its novel treatments for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, resulting in a complete jury trial win, and Litigator of the Week honors in the American Lawyer
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)
Qualifications
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
A Latham team led by Mike Morin and David Frazier won the “Litigators of the Week” competition, alongside co-counsel at Finnegan, for their outstanding defense against a US$290 million patent infringement claim and securing a US$116 million award on behalf of Sarepta Therapeutics, in a one-week timed trial in Delaware.
Latham secured a US$115 million verdict for Sarepta Therapeutics and the University of Western Australia in a patent infringement claim against Nippon Shinyaku.
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