Fenwick's commercially savvy intellectual property lawyers partner with companies at all stages of their lifecycle to create, monetize, manage and protect their most valuable intellectual property assets to further in the context of their key business objectives.
Our IP counseling, transactions and prosecution professionals represent many of the world’s most innovative technology and life sciences companies—from developers of futuristic life-prolonging technologies to those that are investing in the next wave of artificial intelligence, augmented reality, automation and robotics products and tools. We also collaborate closely with our corporate, litigation and tax teams to deliver full-service strategic advice.
- Meticulous interdisciplinary approach to IP-related services for technology and life sciences transactions, litigation and due diligence
- Team of attorneys with scientific and technical backgrounds that is equipped to understand a client’s core technologies and proactively address legal and business concerns
- Full spectrum of IP coverage across sectors and industries, from technology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices to cleantech, consumer goods and entertainment
- Comprehensive counseling on the acquisition, protection and enforcement of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret rights, in addition to guidance on strategic IP portfolio development
- Meticulous interdisciplinary approach to IP-related services for technology and life sciences transactions, litigation and due diligence
- Team of attorneys with scientific and technical backgrounds that is equipped to understand a client’s core technologies and proactively address legal and business concerns
- Full spectrum of IP coverage across sectors and industries, from technology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices to cleantech, consumer goods and entertainment
- Comprehensive counseling on the acquisition, protection and enforcement of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret rights, in addition to guidance on strategic IP portfolio development
Founded five decades ago in Silicon Valley, Fenwick has played a lead role in representing technology and life sciences companies in the development and protection of various industry-shaping innovations and technologies, including:
- Our life sciences patent group has helped file fundamental patents that position our clients at the forefront of COVID-19 treatment development
- Our licensing group has advised on key partnering and licensing matters in the life sciences industry, including billion-dollar collaboration deals related to antibodies, gene and cell therapies and medical devices, for clients such as Amunix, Dexcom, Calico, Loxo Oncology, Second Genome and Veracyte
- We prosecuted the first foundational patents for leading technology giants, including GoPro, Facebook, Twitter and Venmo
- We leverage our deep experience in structuring and negotiating mission-critical commercial agreements, including development, distribution, publishing, celebrity, e-commerce, IT sourcing and strategic transactions for leading games companies, such as Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Niantic, Oculus and Supercell
- Our trademark team handles U.S. and international portfolio work and brand strategy for many of the largest tech portfolios in the world, including Amazon, Atlassian, Docusign, Facebook, Fitbit, GoPro, Pandora, PayPal, Twitter and Uber
Founded five decades ago in Silicon Valley, Fenwick has played a lead role in representing technology and life sciences companies in the development and protection of various industry-shaping innovations and technologies, including:
- Our life sciences patent group has helped file fundamental patents that position our clients at the forefront of COVID-19 treatment development
- Our licensing group has advised on key partnering and licensing matters in the life sciences industry, including billion-dollar collaboration deals related to antibodies, gene and cell therapies and medical devices, for clients such as Amunix, Dexcom, Calico, Loxo Oncology, Second Genome and Veracyte
- We prosecuted the first foundational patents for leading technology giants, including GoPro, Facebook, Twitter and Venmo
- We leverage our deep experience in structuring and negotiating mission-critical commercial agreements, including development, distribution, publishing, celebrity, e-commerce, IT sourcing and strategic transactions for leading games companies, such as Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Niantic, Oculus and Supercell
- Our trademark team handles U.S. and international portfolio work and brand strategy for many of the largest tech portfolios in the world, including Amazon, Atlassian, Docusign, Facebook, Fitbit, GoPro, Pandora, PayPal, Twitter and Uber
Most of our IP attorneys are former engineers and staff scientists with advanced technical degrees and business or research experience prior to their legal careers. We have represented a host of clients across multiple industries and technologies, including:
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Autonomous transportation
- Blockchain
- Consumer technologies and products (including wearables), e-commerce and retailers
- Cybersecurity and big data
- Digital health
- Digital media, entertainment and games
- Fintech
- Life sciences and biotechnology and investors (investment banks, private equity, venture capital, angel investors)
Most of our IP attorneys are former engineers and staff scientists with advanced technical degrees and business or research experience prior to their legal careers. We have represented a host of clients across multiple industries and technologies, including:
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Autonomous transportation
- Blockchain
- Consumer technologies and products (including wearables), e-commerce and retailers
- Cybersecurity and big data
- Digital health
- Digital media, entertainment and games
- Fintech
- Life sciences and biotechnology and investors (investment banks, private equity, venture capital, angel investors)
Our IP group counsels clients in all areas of IP law, including:
- Privacy and cybersecurity
- Due diligence for life sciences companies
- Domestic and international privacy issues
- Software and business method patents
- New business models around open source software
- Novel technology distribution arrangements
- Intellectual property audits
- Novel issues under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
Our IP group counsels clients in all areas of IP law, including:
- Privacy and cybersecurity
- Due diligence for life sciences companies
- Domestic and international privacy issues
- Software and business method patents
- New business models around open source software
- Novel technology distribution arrangements
- Intellectual property audits
- Novel issues under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
A repository of trust for some of the world’s most recognizable brands, Fenwick & West is best known for its ability to handle high-technology, high-stakes and high-profile cases with finesse. Its attorneys truly understand the relationship between intellectual property and a successful business model, and craft winning strategies that place their clients in the strongest position."
IAM Patent 1000
2023
Recognition Recognition Recognition
Recognition Recognition Recognition
Managing Intellectual Property
2026
Recognized Fenwick as its inaugural US Firm of the Year, and named Fenwick Firm of the Year - Nationwide for Patent Prosecution and IP Transactions; Shortlisted for Firm of the Year - West for Patent Prosecution, Trademark Prosecution, and Copyright
World Trademark Review
2026
Recognized as a gold-tier firm for prosecution and strategy as well as enforcement and litigation in California and nationally.
Chambers Global
2026
Change description to: Leading U.S. firm for Intellectual Property: Patent, Intellectual Property: Trademark & Copyright, and Privacy & Data Security
Chambers USA
2025
Chambers USA honored Fenwick as a leading U.S. firm for Intellectual Property. Recognitions include IP - Patent (New York), Patent Litigation and Patent Prosecution (California), Trademark and Copyright (California and Nationwide), and Privacy & Data Security - Highly Regarded (Nationwide)
The Legal 500
2025
The Legal 500 recognized Fenwick in the highest tier nationally for patents: licensing; patents: prosecution; and technology transactions. Also honored among the United States’ leading firms for copyright; trademarks: non-contentious; cyber law; trademarks: litigation; and patents: litigation
The Global IP Awards
2022
The Global IP Awards named Fenwick the U.S. Patent Prosecution Firm of the Year
Managing Intellectual Property
2026
Recognized Fenwick as its inaugural US Firm of the Year, and named Fenwick Firm of the Year - Nationwide for Patent Prosecution and IP Transactions; Shortlisted for Firm of the Year - West for Patent Prosecution, Trademark Prosecution, and Copyright
World Trademark Review
2026
Recognized as a gold-tier firm for prosecution and strategy as well as enforcement and litigation in California and nationally.
Chambers Global
2026
Change description to: Leading U.S. firm for Intellectual Property: Patent, Intellectual Property: Trademark & Copyright, and Privacy & Data Security
Chambers USA
2025
Chambers USA honored Fenwick as a leading U.S. firm for Intellectual Property. Recognitions include IP - Patent (New York), Patent Litigation and Patent Prosecution (California), Trademark and Copyright (California and Nationwide), and Privacy & Data Security - Highly Regarded (Nationwide)
The Legal 500
2025
The Legal 500 recognized Fenwick in the highest tier nationally for patents: licensing; patents: prosecution; and technology transactions. Also honored among the United States’ leading firms for copyright; trademarks: non-contentious; cyber law; trademarks: litigation; and patents: litigation
Benchmark Litigation
2022
Benchmark Litigation recognized Fenwick in Tier 2 for Intellectual Property
The Global IP Awards
2022
The Global IP Awards named Fenwick the U.S. Patent Prosecution Firm of the Year