Seth focuses his practice on intellectual property protection, licensing, strategy, and disputes, as well as research transactions and operations, particularly in life sciences and health care. He handles a range of technology and clinical research matters, and advises technology transfer programs at academic and health care institutions. Seth also acts as outside general counsel to technology-driven companies. He is co-chair of the firm’s Life Sciences practice.
I support tech transfer programs at universities, research institutes and academic medical centers. My experience includes patent procurement and portfolio management, coordinating complex research arrangements, negotiating commercial transactions involving IP, resolving related disputes and coordinating IP enforcement activities. I also advise on the development and expansion of tech transfer programs; the operation of incubators, accelerators and venture funds; and the revision of institutional IP policies to reflect contemporary tech transfer issues. I am intimately familiar with tech transfer operations and the unique environment in which these programs exist.
I represent academic and health care institutions and life sciences companies in technology and research-driven transactions. I also work with companies in the private sector that do business with these institutions. My work in this area includes drafting and negotiating license agreements, joint research and development agreements, clinical trial agreements, sponsored research agreements, consulting agreements, and a range of other corporate transactions to effectuate deals in the arenas of research, health care, and IP.
I serve as outside general counsel to emerging growth and mid-stage life sciences companies, supporting their businesses in this complex ecosystem. Coordinating with other specialists at the firm when needed, I guide our clients’ fundraising efforts, intellectual property strategy, partnering deals, board governance matters, and their full range of operational issues.
Technology transfer offices at academic institutions are developing and deploying increasingly sophisticated programs and service offerings to enhance their institution’s research activities, de-risk their innovations, generate revenue, benefit the public and stimulate economic growth.
I believe technology transfer offices will become more active enforcers of their IP against infringers. I expect these institutions to increasingly leverage litigation to enhance their licensing efforts.
In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to drive and inform research, development and commercialization efforts throughout the life sciences sector. Practical and efficient deal-making and creative collaborations will be key to addressing worldwide public health issues and to otherwise meet the unique needs of this moment, whether through new treatments, vaccines and medical devices or other technologies such as telemedicine and digital health innovations.
Q Voice News | December 09, 2021
The following article covers the successful resolution of a long-running pro bono matter for which NP teamed with the ACLU to represent a transgender woman who was denied access to the women’s locker room at a gym in San Diego on more than 70 occasions. This denial of access clearly violated California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination in public accommodations. After more than three years, the parties reached a fair settlement. The NP team working on this case includes Intellectual Property partner and Life Sciences practice co-chair Seth Levy, Labor & Employment partner Michael Lindsay, and alum Erin Holyoke, all of the Los Angeles office.
Advocate | December 09, 2021
The following article covers the successful resolution of a long-running pro bono matter for which NP teamed with the ACLU to represent a transgender woman who was denied access to the women’s locker room at a gym in San Diego on more than 70 occasions. This denial of access clearly violated California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination in public accommodations. After more than three years, the parties reached a fair settlement. The NP team working on this case includes Intellectual Property partner and Life Sciences practice co-chair Seth Levy, Labor & Employment partner Michael Lindsay, and alum Erin Holyoke, all of the Los Angeles office.
Intellectual Property & Technology Law Journal | August 20, 2021
Los Angeles partner Seth Levy and associate Vince Capati, and Washington, DC associate Alexis Grilli, all of the Intellectual Property group, contributed this article analyzing royalties due after a patent’s expiration—considered unlawful per se, in a rule upheld by the Supreme Court in 2015—and what it means for patent owners and licensees.
Forbes | May 03, 2021
In this article, Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy discusses the collaborative approach to a leadership change at the It Gets Better Project, where he is stepping down as president and chair of the board of directors to make way for Paul Dien. Seth, a founding member of the LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, will remain on the nonprofit’s board.
Technology Transfer Tactics | February 22, 2021
Life Sciences practice co-chair and Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy contributed this article on how litigation funding can address some of the more significant challenges for a growing number of universities pursuing patent enforcement campaigns.
Life Sciences Intellectual Property Review | February 18, 2021
Life Sciences practice co-chair and Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy provides third-party commentary on sovereign immunity for disputes involving patents owned by state universities, after the University of Texas lost an appeal to review a ruling preventing it from using sovereign immunity to shield patents from inter partes reviews.
Click here to read the article.
World Intellectual Property Review | February 17, 2021
Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner and Life Sciences practice co-chair Seth Levy is featured in this Q&A related to diversity in the intellectual property field, with a particular focus on LGBT+ History Month.
KIFI/KIDK News – Idaho | December 22, 2020
This article covers an amicus brief filed with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals by three former Idaho attorneys general, detailing why Idaho House Bill 500—which bars transgender women and girls from participating in school sports and subjects all women and girl athletes to the threat of invasive testing—is unconstitutional. In addition to the former AGs, more than 175 athletes joined Athlete Ally and the Women’s Sports Foundation in signing a brief, and the National Women’s Law Center and more than 60 other women’s rights and civil rights groups also filed an amicus brief. Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy and Complex Commercial Disputes partner Sarah Erickson André, and Washington, D.C. Government Investigations & White Collar Defense partner Adam Tarosky are representing the former AGs.
Technology Transfer Tactics | October 22, 2020
This article, covering the University of California’s patent enforcement campaign related to filament LED light bulbs, quotes Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy extensively on a successful initial phase of the campaign, and a recent complaint filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission initiating the second phase. The NP team representing UC is led by Seth and Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Shawn Hansen.
Supply Chain Brain | October 05, 2020
The following article covers the U.S. International Trade Commission’s second investigation into leading retailers and suppliers of filament LED lighting products, based on a complaint filed by Nixon Peabody on behalf of the Regents of the University of California (UC). Supply Chain Brain quotes Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy extensively on the expanded patent enforcement campaign. The NP team representing UC is led by Seth and Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Shawn Hansen.
Intellectual Property Magazine | October 01, 2020
Intellectual Property partner and Life Sciences Practice co-chair Seth Levy and Intellectual Property counsel Peter Wied, both of Los Angeles, contributed this article, based on their alert, which examines the Gensetix Inc v Baylor College of Medicine case and a recent ruling to allow an infringement case to proceed without the state university patent owner’s involvement.
Bloomberg Law | September 30, 2020
This article covers the U.S. International Trade Commission’s institution of a second investigation into leading retailers and suppliers of filament LED lighting products, based on a complaint NP filed on behalf of the Regents of the University of California (UC). Los Angeles Intellectual Property partners Seth Levy and Shawn Hansen are leading the NP team in UC’s LED patent enforcement campaign.
World IP Review | September 30, 2020
The following article covers the U.S. International Trade Commission’s second investigation into leading retailers and suppliers of filament LED lighting products, based on a complaint filed by Nixon Peabody on behalf of the Regents of the University of California (UC). Supply Chain Brain quotes Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy extensively on the expanded patent enforcement campaign. The NP team representing UC is led by Seth and Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Shawn Hansen.
Times Higher Education | September 19, 2020
This article discusses how the LED lighting patent enforcement campaign on behalf of the Regents of the University of California (UC) could chart a path for other universities to protect their innovations, as well as the role of litigation funding in the campaign. The article quotes Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy.
Semiconductor Today | September 15, 2020
This article, covering a recent complaint NP filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on behalf of the Regents of the University of California (UC), quotes Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy on the new litigation and the ongoing LED patent enforcement campaign.
LEDinside | September 14, 2020
This article covers a recent complaint NP filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on behalf of the Regents of the University of California (UC), expanding the LED patent enforcement campaign with new litigation against six leading retailers and suppliers of filament LED lighting products. The NP team is led by Los Angeles Intellectual Property partners Seth Levy and Shawn Hansen.
Tech Transfer eNews Blog | September 02, 2020
The following article covers a new complaint filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on behalf of the Regents of the University of California (UC), quote Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy on the ongoing patent enforcement campaign. The complaint seeks an investigation into the unauthorized importation and sale after importation of UC’s patented filament LED lighting technology by General Electric, Savant Systems, Feit Electric, Home Depot, Ikea, and Satco Products.
LEDs Magazine | September 02, 2020
The following article covers a new complaint filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on behalf of the Regents of the University of California (UC), quote Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy on the ongoing patent enforcement campaign. The complaint seeks an investigation into the unauthorized importation and sale after importation of UC’s patented filament LED lighting technology by General Electric, Savant Systems, Feit Electric, Home Depot, Ikea, and Satco Products.
Pacific Coast Business Times | September 01, 2020
This article, covering a new complaint filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on behalf of the Regents of the University of California (UC), quotes Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy on the ongoing patent enforcement campaign. The complaint seeks an investigation into the unauthorized importation and sale after importation of UC’s patented filament LED lighting technology by General Electric, Savant Systems, Feit Electric, Home Depot, Ikea, and Satco Products.
Law360 | August 31, 2020
An NP team led by Los Angeles Intellectual Property partners Seth Levy and Shawn Hansen on Monday expanded its groundbreaking patent enforcement campaign on behalf of the Regents of the University of California (UC). The following articles cover the new complaint, filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission, which seeks an investigation into the unauthorized importation and sale after importation of UC’s patented filament LED lighting technology by General Electric, Savant Systems, Feit Electric, Home Depot, Ikea, and Satco Products.
In addition to Seth and Shawn, the NP team includes Washington, DC Intellectual Property partner Evan Langdon; Los Angeles Intellectual Property partners Staci Riordan, Vincent Yip and Peter Wied, and associate Vince Capati; Chicago Intellectual Property associates Paulina Starostka and Angelo Christopher; San Francisco Complex Commercial Disputes associate Tracy Ickes; and Los Angeles patent specialist Jason Moore.
Bloomberg News | August 31, 2020
An NP team led by Los Angeles Intellectual Property partners Seth Levy and Shawn Hansen on Monday expanded its groundbreaking patent enforcement campaign on behalf of the Regents of the University of California (UC). The following articles cover the new complaint, filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission, which seeks an investigation into the unauthorized importation and sale after importation of UC’s patented filament LED lighting technology by General Electric, Savant Systems, Feit Electric, Home Depot, Ikea, and Satco Products. In addition to Seth and Shawn, the NP team includes Washington, DC Intellectual Property partner Evan Langdon; Los Angeles Intellectual Property partners Staci Riordan, Vincent Yip and Peter Wied, and associate Vince Capati; Chicago Intellectual Property associates Paulina Starostka and Angelo Christopher; San Francisco Complex Commercial Disputes associate Tracy Ickes; and Los Angeles patent specialist Jason Moore.
Tech Transfer Tactics | February 18, 2020
Intellectual Property partners Evan Langdon of Washington, DC, and Shawn Hansen and Seth Levy of Los Angeles co-wrote this article explaining how the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) can be a “powerfully effective venue” for patent protection. Evan, Shawn, and Seth are leading the NP team representing the University of California in an investigation pending at the ITC concerning LED lightbulb technology. Read the full article on techtransfercentral.com.
TotalRetail | February 13, 2020
This article analyzes the potential for lasting implications to the global supply chain as a result of the University of California’s (UC) patent enforcement campaign against several retailers selling filament LED lightbulbs. Los Angeles Intellectual Property partners Seth Levy and Shawn Hansen are the lead attorneys representing UC.
Pacific Coast Business Times | February 07, 2020
The article mentions Nixon Peabody’s ongoing representation of the Regents of the University of California in UC Santa Barbara’s patent enforcement matter, noting that a recent $1.1 billion verdict for the California Institute of Technology in another matter could bode well for UC Santa Barbara. Los Angeles Intellectual Property partners Seth Levy and Shawn Hansen are the lead attorneys representing UC.
The Hechinger Report | January 17, 2020
In this article about the ways universities succeed or fail in monetizing their intellectual property, Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy talks about NP’s patent enforcement work on behalf of the University of California.
Tech Transfer Central | January 08, 2020
This article quotes Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy discussing Nixon Peabody’s representation of the University of California, which has sued General Electric as part of its ongoing campaign to enforce its patents on LED lightbulb technology. Seth and Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Shawn Hansen are leading the NP team.
Pacific Coast Business Times | January 02, 2020
Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy is quoted in this story covering the latest developments in UC Santa Barbara’s patent enforcement campaign to protect its LED lightbulb technology, including the addition of General Electric as a defendant. Seth and Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Shawn Hansen are leading the NP team.
Lawdragon | October 08, 2019
In this Q&A, Longford Capital partner Michael Nicolas discusses the litigation financing for Nixon Peabody’s University of California (UC) campaign, led by Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy, to protect UC’s rights related to filament LED technology developed at UC Santa Barbara.
SupplyChainBrain | September 30, 2019
This article focuses on the impact of Nixon Peabody’s LED lightbulb campaign across the supply chain. Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy is quoted extensively in the piece.
Technology Transfer Tactics | September 25, 2019
This article features Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy discussing NP’s work representing the University of California in a first-of-its-kind “direct enforcement campaign” designed to protect UC’s patents covering LED lightbulb technology.
IP Watchdog | September 19, 2019
Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy talks about Nixon Peabody’s representation of the University of California in an effort to protect the university’s rights related to filament LED technology developed at UC Santa Barbara. The article also mentions Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Shawn Hansen as co-lead counsel for UC in this case.
Law360 | August 29, 2019
This article highlights recent developments in the University of California’s campaign to protect its rights related to filament LED technology developed at UC Santa Barbara. On Wednesday, the U.S. International Trade Commission opened an investigation in response to UC’s complaint, filed in July by the Nixon Peabody team led by Los Angeles Intellectual Property partners Seth Levy and Shawn Hansen.
Fast Company | August 02, 2019
This article highlights the University of California’s campaign to protect its rights related to filament LED technology developed at the university. An NP team led by Los Angeles Intellectual Property partners Seth Levy and Shawn Hansen is representing UC in this campaign.
Recorder/Law.com | June 28, 2019
This article, about the progress big law firms have made in support of the LGBTQ community, highlights Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy and his role as chairman and CEO of the It Gets better Project. The story also links to Nixon Peabody’s It Gets Better video.
Law360 | June 20, 2019
Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Seth Levy talks about his involvement with the It Gets Better Project and his experience as an openly gay man in the legal profession. Click here to read the full article.
University of Southern California Law School, J.D.
Cornell University, B.S., Agricultural & Biological Engineering, cum laude
California
District of Columbia
Idaho
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
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