Irfan A. Lateef

Irfan A. Lateef is a seasoned patent litigator with over two decades of experience, primarily focusing on complex disputes within the medical device and electrical engineering sectors. His practice areas encompass a broad range of technologies, including wireless communications (e.g., 5G, Wi-Fi), semiconductors, consumer electronics, advanced signal processing, and various medical devices such as patient monitoring systems, wearables, and imaging technologies. While one tracked appearance lists him as Of Counsel at Irell & Manella for a plaintiff-side engagement, Mr. Lateef is prominently recognized as a partner at Knobbe Martens, where he chairs the Electrical, Semiconductor & Computer Technology Litigation Committee and leads the firm's Japan practice. He handles both plaintiff and defendant-side representations for technology companies, advising clients on protecting and leveraging their intellectual property assets.

Throughout his career, Mr. Lateef has secured significant outcomes in high-stakes patent litigation. Notable achievements include representing Masimo in multiple landmark cases, such as securing a $466 million jury verdict against Philips Electronics North America Corp. and a $134.5 million damages award against Mallinckrodt, Inc., which was upheld on appeal. He was also involved in an ITC action where certain Apple watches were found to infringe Masimo's patents, leading to an import ban. More recently, in 2024, he played a key role in achieving the dismissal of a patent infringement lawsuit against Masimo and a permanent injunction against Sotera Wireless and Foxconn. His defense work includes representing companies like Toshiba, HTC, and JK Imaging in patent disputes.

Mr. Lateef is experienced in PTAB proceedings, having represented Toshiba in an Inter Partes Review (IPR) that resulted in a patent on a USB connector being found unpatentable, a decision later affirmed by the Federal Circuit. He frequently contributes to discussions on litigation trends, particularly in the medical device industry, and has co-authored articles on patent protection strategies like permanent injunctions. He earned his J.D. from Georgetown University in 1999, an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University in 1996, and a B.S.E. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois - Urbana - Champaign in 1993. He is admitted to the State Bar of California and practices before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and various U.S. District Courts.