Irfan Lateef, a distinguished IP litigator with over two decades of experience, serves as the chair of the firm’s Electrical, Semiconductor & Computer Technology Litigation Committee and leads the firm’s Japan practice.
His expertise has earned him recognition among the premier IP litigators in the “World’s Leading Patent Professionals” for the Patent 1000 guide by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) magazine and the “IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists.” He has been listed in the Legal 500, and is included among the Daily Journal’s “100 leading IP attorneys in California” for his extraordinary representation of Toshiba Corp.
Clients entrust Irfan to tackle some of their most technically complex matters due to his comprehensive understanding and experience across a spectrum of industries. His electrical engineering background gives him the ability to master diverse technologies, such as wireless communications (e.g., 5G, LTE, 802.11, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, satellite), semiconductors, audio and video decoding technologies, consumer electronics (e.g., televisions, gaming consoles, smartphones, tablets), advanced signal processing, and digital and analog circuitry. His expertise extends to medical devices. With a master’s degree in biomedical engineering, he possesses unique insight into wearables, noninvasive patient monitoring, breath analyte monitoring, blood component separation, atrial fibrillation devices, ECG and EEG signal processing, imaging (e.g., MRI), and acoustic signal processing.
He helped longstanding client Masimo protect revolutionary patient-monitoring technology since 1999. In one trial, a jury awarded over $134 million against Masimo’s primary rival. In the second trial, Masimo asserted patents against a patient-monitoring giant in the industry, where the jury awarded Masimo over $466 million. In a third trial, the Court found that a former employee and his company misappropriated Masimo’s trade secrets. In another trial, the ITC found that certain Apple watches infringed Masimo’s patents and instituted a ban. In addition, Irfan also successfully defended Masimo against multiple claims of patent infringement.
He is an expert in representing Japanese companies in IP disputes. He has been counsel to Toshiba, Canon Medical, Furuno, Keylex, Takata, Panasonic, and others. He has a keen understanding of cultural nuances, can build consensus in evaluating risk, and maintains clear, prompt communications. He also has a beginner’s level of Japanese language proficiency.
With a litigator’s hindsight perspective to anticipate business opportunities, Irfan also advises clients in areas ranging from initial product design to IP rights tactics and monetization, to ongoing development and market penetration. He is well-versed in the challenges his clients face and the questions that must be addressed and answered, providing solutions that fit their business and financial objectives.
Irfan’s passion for his clients’ innovation and distinctive goals is evident in his meticulous, considerate, and helpful approach. He often provides value far beyond mere legal services, making him a trusted advisor to clients seeking to protect and leverage their intellectual property assets.
Georgetown University, J.D.
Northwestern University, M.S., Biomedical Engineering, Cabell Fellow
University of Illinois – Urbana – Champaign, B.S.E., Electrical Engineering, Graduated with highest honors and Bronze Tablet distinction, Eta Kappa Nu Electrical Engineering Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
State Bar of California
Supreme Court of the United States
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. District Court – Central District of California
U.S. District Court – Northern District of California
U.S. District Court – Southern District of California
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Biotech
Diagnostic Tools
Chemical, Industrial & Materials
Automation & Robotics
Electrical
Semiconductors
Communications Technology
Cellular Networking & Communications
Low-Power Networks
Radio
Television
Videoconferencing
Wireless Local Area Networks
Electrical, Semiconductor & Computer Technology
Electronics & Semiconductors
Healthcare Information Technology
Software & IT
Energy
Energy Efficient Technologies
Lighting
Solar Power
Financial Services & Business Methods
Blockchain & Smart Contracts
Cloud Computing
Cryptocurrency & Encryption
Medical Devices & Procedures
Ablation Technology
Aesthetics & Implants
Cardiac Rhythm Management
Cardiovascular
Dermatology
Diagnostics
Glucose Monitoring & Insulin Infusion
Imaging
Medical Informatics & Software Systems
Neurology
Ophthalmology & Eye Care
Pacemakers & Electrical Stimulation Devices
Robotics
Vital Signs, Physiologic, & Hemodynamic Monitoring
Transportation & Vehicles
Electronics (Audio / Video, Communication, Navigation, Security)
Advertising, Media & Entertainment Practice
Appellate Litigation
Covered Business Method (CBM)
Due Diligence
Inter Partes Review (IPR)
International Trade Commission (ITC) Disputes
IP Strategy
IP Transactions, Agreements & Venture Capital
Litigation
Patent Litigation
Patent Strategy & Prosecution
Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) Trials (Post Grant)
Post-Grant Review (PGR)
Trade Secret
Trade Secret & Employee Mobility Litigation
Trade Secret & Employee Mobility Litigation
Trade Secret Protection Advice & Counseling
Trademark & Brand Protection
Trademark Litigation & Unfair Competition
Trademark Litigation & Unfair Competition
U.S. Patent Prosecution
Unfair Competition Litigation
Irfan has received multiple awards for his legal accomplishments:
- Named a Southern California Super Lawyer (2025)
- Recognized for outstanding work in patent law in the 2024 edition of the Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) “Patent 1000 Guide” for Litigation (2024)
- Named in 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers for the distinction honors outstanding lawyers based on peer nominations and independent research
- Named among 2024 Los Angeles Times Business of Law Visionaries
- Recognized as an Honoree in the Lawyers of Color 2022 Hot List
- Named to IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists (2021-2024) which “identifies the individuals who are leading the way in the development and implementation of strategies that maximize the value of IP portfolios”
- Named one of the “World’s Leading Patent Professionals” for litigation in the Patent 1000 guide by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) magazine (2013-2023). In the 2018 guide, Irfan was described as “one of the most experienced trial lawyers in the ITC”.
- Recognized as an Honoree in the Lawyers of Color Nation’s Best 2020 List
- Selected for inclusion in the “Southern California Super Lawyers” list for his work in intellectual property litigation from 2010-2021 by Super Lawyers magazine
- Recognized by Legal 500 for Patent Litigation in 2013
- Recognized by the Daily Journal among the 100 leading intellectual property (IP) attorneys in California for 2011. He was also included in the 75 Leading Intellectual Property Litigators list, recognized for his extraordinary representation of Toshiba Corp., a pioneer in notebook computer technology
- International Intellectual Property Law Association
- International Bar Association
