Paul Hastings’ IP Growth Continues with Leading Tech and Life Sciences Partner Additions in Japan and U.S.

July 06, 2016

Tokyo and New York—Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global law firm, announced today that Hiroyuki (Hiro) Hagiwara and Hassen Sayeed M.D. have joined the firm as partners in the Intellectual Property practice, based in the Tokyo and New York offices, respectively.

“Our Intellectual Property practice continues to attract top talent across both the life sciences and technology sectors,” said Barry Sher, global chair of the firm’s Litigation practice. “Hiro and Hassen’s addition solidifies our reputation as a go-to IP practice.”

“Paul Hastings has been shaping the IP life sciences landscape for over a decade,” said Joseph O’Malley, global co-chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice. “Hiro and Hassen are valuable additions to our established practice – Hiro’s rare combination of training and experience in Japan and the U.S. is an also asset to our cross-border IP litigation practice in both life sciences and tech sectors, and Hassen’s unique medical background brings a new and valuable perspective to our life sciences IP clients,” he added.

Hiroyuki (Hiro) Hagiwara

Mr. Hagiwara has more than 20 years of experience representing the world’s leading technology and life sciences companies in cross-border IP licensing and litigation matters. Early in his career, he was a patent attorney in the international licensing department of a major multinational technology company, specializing in contentious licensing negotiations and settlements of IP disputes. In private practice, Mr. Hagiwara has litigated numerous IP cases involving complex technologies and legal issues in the U.S. federal courts and the ITC, defending infringement claims, monetizing clients’ IP assets, and representing pharma clients in ANDA cases.

Hassen A. Sayeed M.D.

Dr. Sayeed is one of the few patent litigators in the U.S. who holds a medical degree. He counsels life sciences clients in all aspects of complex patent litigation at the district court and appellate levels to help businesses achieve their strategic goals. He also has more than a decade of experience handling cases arising under the Hatch-Waxman Act on behalf of pioneering pharmaceutical companies.

Mr. Hagiwara and Dr. Sayeed’s arrival follows several other lateral additions to the firm’s IP practice. In March of 2015, the firm brought on a ten-member technology patent trial team from McDermott, Will & Emery that included partners Yar Chaikovsky, Blair Jacobs, Stuart Bartow, and Christina Ondrick. Their arrival followed the addition of several other IP litigation partners across the U.S., including Naveen Modi and Joseph Palys in Washington, D.C., and Andrew Grossman in Los Angeles.

Paul Hastings is regularly acknowledged for its track record of winning major cases and setting precedents in patent law. The firm was recognized by The Financial Times in its North America Innovative Lawyers 2015 report for securing the first-ever win for a branded drug company at the Inter Partes Review (IPR). Partner Bruce Wexler was recently named Transatlantic Lawyer of the Year in the IP category by the American Lawyer for significant wins in matters involving U.S. and European pharmaceutical companies. Partner Naveen Modi – the number one filer at the PTAB in 2015 – was named Outstanding IP Litigator of the Year in the PTAB by Managing IP', and Mr. Modi and partner Gerald Flattmann were recognized as IP MVPs by Law360 for their numerous IPR wins on behalf of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Finally, Yar Chaikovsky was one of five intellectual property trial lawyers across the U.S. shortlisted for Benchmark Litigation's U.S. Awards - Intellectual Property Attorney of the Year 2015.

At Paul Hastings, our purpose is clear — to help our clients and people navigate new paths to growth. With a strong presence throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the U.S., Paul Hastings is recognized as one of the world’s most innovative global law firms.