Charles E. Lipsey

Partner

Charles Lipsey focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation, particularly patent infringement litigation. He has handled cases covering a diverse spectrum of mechanical, chemical, and electrical technologies, with an emphasis on cases involving biotechnology and pharmaceutical chemistry. Since joining Finnegan in 1978, Mr. Lipsey has amassed a wealth of experience in patent infringement litigation, patent arbitration proceedings, and patent interferences.

Mr. Lipsey lectures throughout the world to professional and bar audiences on patent law, licensing, biotechnology, and litigation and has authored and coauthored extensive number of scholarly and practice works, including the multi-volume treatise Patent Law Perspectives, published by Matthew Bender.

Highlights

• Involved on behalf of patent owners in cases such as Hybritech v. Abbott Laboratories and the associated interference proceedings, relating to monoclonal antibody technology.
• Participated on behalf of accused infringers in cases such as Regents of the University of California v. Eli Lilly and Co., relating to recombinant DNA used to make human insulin.
• Active in the case of Loral Fairchild, Inc. v. Matsushita et al., relating to semiconductor devices used in camcorders.
• Handled the Gallo v. Montagnier interference proceeding, relating to the ownership of the patent rights underlying the AIDS antibody test.
• Invited by the U.S. Supreme Court to brief and argue in support of the judgment of the Florida Supreme Court in the case of Bonito Boats, Inc. v. Thundercraft Boats, Inc., relating to the constitutionality of state anti-direct-molding statutes.
• Served as a patent examiner in the USPTO.
• Former associate professorial lecturer in law at The George Washington University.

Professional Recognition

• Recognized as a leader in the field of Intellectual Property Law by Chambers & Partners in its guide, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2003-2009).
• Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (2005-2010).
• Listed in the Washingtonian Magazine as a “Top Lawyer” (2009).

Professional Activities

• The District of Columbia Bar
• Virginia State Bar
• American Bar Association
• American Intellectual Property Law Association

Select Publications

• Coauthor. "Which Way to Go?," IP Law & Business, July 2008.
• "Canadian Court Decision Places Broad Class of Patents in Jeopardy," Washington Legal Foundation Legal Backgrounder, July 2007.
• Coauthor. "Litigation of the Written Description Requirement," 2005 Summer ILP Conference, June 2005.
• Coauthor. "Patent Law Perspectives," Matthew Bender, 1982-1988.