Pierson Ferdinand

Pierson Ferdinand is a tech-driven, full-service law firm founded in 2024 and headquartered in New York, NY, with a significant global presence across more than 25 key markets in the US and UK. The firm operates with a distributed business model and has rapidly grown to include over 270 to 290 partners firmwide, many of whom previously practiced at AmLaw-ranked and other top global law firms. This structure positions Pierson Ferdinand as a sizable and expanding firm, distinguishing it from traditional regional shops or boutiques.

The firm's Intellectual Property Litigation team possesses broad expertise across a diverse range of industries and technologies. These include, but are not limited to, audio electronics, automotive, biosimilars, business methods, computer software and hardware, cybersecurity, e-commerce, electronics, medical devices, pharmaceuticals (ANDA), semiconductors, and Wi-Fi. The firm's IP litigators are equipped to handle disputes in federal trial and appellate courts, arbitration, the ITC, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Pierson Ferdinand demonstrates a capability to defend operating companies in patent infringement suits. The firm’s tracked appearances indicate a defendant-side preference, with one recorded instance of representation as local counsel for a defendant. In a notable outcome, Pierson Ferdinand secured a complete victory for defendant Egnyte, Inc. in a patent infringement suit brought by Topia Technology, Inc. The firm obtained summary judgment in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, with the ruling issued on the eve of a scheduled jury trial. This victory for Egnyte, Inc. involved defending against allegations of infringing six patents related to automatic local synchronization of digital files.

The firm actively engages in Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) proceedings, including Inter Partes Reviews (IPRs) and Post-Grant Reviews (PGRs), as part of its comprehensive IP dispute resolution services. While the firm's website confirms its involvement in these post-grant venues, publicly available data on the precise volume or scale of their PTAB filings or defenses is not readily quantified in reliable sources.

Key partners in the Intellectual Property Department include Christopher R. Kinkade, who serves as an Intellectual Property Co-Chair. Other prominent attorneys involved in the firm's patent litigation efforts include Armon Shahdadi, who was part of the team that secured the summary judgment victory for Egnyte, Inc. Hoda Rifai-Bashjawish also recently joined the firm as a partner in the Intellectual Property Department, focusing on complex intellectual property litigation. Frank Stuart Harrison is also noted for his work as local counsel.