Patent litigation attorney
Natalie L. Hocken
3 tracked appearances — 1 plaintiff · 2 defendant.
Specialty & background
Natalie L. Hocken is a senior in-house legal professional with a focus on patent litigation defense within the energy sector, specifically concerning environmental technologies. Her practice primarily involves technologies related to mercury emissions capture and sorbent injection for coal-fired power plants, as evidenced by her involvement in significant litigation against Birchtech Corp. (formerly Midwest Energy Emissions Corp.). As Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Director for Berkshire Hathaway Energy, her role encompasses managing legal functions, including patent matters affecting the company and its subsidiaries.
Hocken primarily represents defendant operating companies, particularly utility providers, in patent infringement disputes. She has appeared on behalf of Berkshire Hathaway Energy and its subsidiaries in the complex, multi-defendant patent litigation initiated by Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. (now Birchtech Corp.). In the consolidated proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, claims against Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company were dismissed for failure to state a claim. She was also involved as in-house counsel in a related case where Wisconsin Power & Light Co., a defendant in the broader litigation, saw the case transferred from the Western District of Wisconsin just 16 days after filing, prior to any merits ruling.
Her experience extends to post-grant proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company and PacifiCorp, a subsidiary, have filed numerous Inter Partes Review (IPR) petitions as challengers against Birchtech Corp.'s patents, involving similar grounds and related patent families.
Hocken is a graduate of the University of Washington and received her law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1994. Prior to her extensive in-house career with Berkshire Hathaway Energy and its subsidiary PacifiCorp, she practiced energy law at Heller Ehrman LLP and LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae LLP.
Firms
Roles
- in-house2
- In-House Counsel1
Cases (3)
- Δ defendantMidwest Energy Emissions Corp. et al. v. Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company et al.Berkshire Hathaway Energy · in-house
- Δ defendantMidwest Energy Emissions Corp. et al. v. Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company et al.in-house
- π plaintiffWisconsin Power & Light Co. et al. v. Birchtech Corp.In-House Counsel