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William James

Partner

Email

william.james@aoshearman.com

Phone

+1 202 683 3895

Offices

Washington DC

V-CARD
A patent litigator in the firm’s Intellectual Property practice, Bill has more than 25 years of experience as a trial lawyer representing multinational companies in pharmaceutical, med-tech, and biotechnology patent litigation disputes.
His most recent experience includes high stakes biotechnology-related district court, International Trade Commission (ITC) litigation, and arbitration matters.

Bill is a Hatch-Waxman trial specialist, and he has handled first-to-file cases and multi-defendant ANDA patent challenges. Bill advises companies on global coordination of patent and patent litigation matters, including matters in the U.K., the Netherlands, France, Russia, Israel, Australia, Canada, and Mexico, and the European Patent Office. 
 
Bill acts as Lead Counsel in IPR proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and has participated in numerous appeals, including appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. He counsels clients on litigation preparation, freedom-to-operate, due diligence, licensing, and prosecution matters. 
 
Bill is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York Intellectual Property Law Association and the American Intellectual Property Law Association. He has served in a number of firm-management roles over the course of his career.

Experience

Representative matters

Alcon in Hatch Waxman patent litigation in the District of Delaware against generic filer Padagis on Simbrinza®, an eye drop for glaucoma and increased intraocular pressure. 

The University of Pennsylvania in patent litigation against Genentech relating to the use of the biologic drug Herceptin®. 

A multinational pharmaceutical corporation in IPRs and ITC, District Court, and antitrust litigation adverse to Regeneron on a pre-filled syringe medical device for intraocular administration of the biologic Eylea®. 

Aegerion Pharmaceuticals and the University of Pennsylvania as lead counsel in IPRs filed by the Coalition for Affordable Drugs challenging patents covering the use of the Juxtapid® (lomitapide) product. 

Teva in Hatch Waxman patent litigation in D. Del. and SDNY district courts protecting Teva’s largest brand product, Copaxone®, from generic competition. 

A multinational pharmaceutical corporation in ITC and District Court patent and antitrust litigation adverse to Regeneron on the Eylea® Pre-filled Syringe.

Aegerion Pharmaceuticals and the University of Pennsylvania as lead counsel in defeating IPRs filed by the Coalition for Affordable Drugs challenging patents covering the use of the Juxtapid® (lomitapide) product.

Teva in patent litigation protecting Teva’s largest brand product, Copaxone®, from generic competition. 

Intervet and Schering Animal Health in patent litigation against Merial relating to the Circumvent® vaccine product.

Pro bono

Bill has represented U.S. military veterans in appeals before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. 
 
In addition, Bill has assisted green card holders seeking U.S. citizenship.

Published Work

  • Co-Author, “The Name Game: The Debate Over Naming Follow-on Biologics,” Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (July 2, 2014) 
  • Co-Author, Chapter on U.S. Patent Law, Getting the Deal Through – Patents in 37 Jurisdictions Worldwide – 2014 (May 16, 2014) 
  • Contributor, Guide to Biosimilars Litigation and Regulation in the U.S., 2019-2020, 2021-2022 editions

Speaking Engagements

  • American Conference, Inc., 18th Annual "Paragraph IV Disputes," New York, NY (April 19-20, 2023)

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, New York Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association 

Awards

  • Litigation Star, Intellectual Property, Washington, D.C., Benchmark Litigation, 2021
  • IAM Patent 1000 – 2022

Qualifications

Admissions

Registered Foreign Lawyer, England and Wales, 2024

Admitted to the Bar of the State of New York, 1997

Admitted to the Bar of the District of Columbia, 2007

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), 2003

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

United States Supreme Court

Academic

JD, New York University, School of Law, 1996

DVM, Oklahoma State University, 1989

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.