Christy Lea resolves high-stakes patent and trade secret disputes at both the trial and appellate levels. She has represented clients in the medical device and pharmaceutical industries for nearly two decades. Christy is also an accomplished PTAB trial litigator having served as lead counsel in numerous IPRs.
Notably, Christy co-led the firm’s trial team that won a $70 million jury verdict with $21 million in enhanced damages for CardiAQ in a trade secrets misappropriation case against its former vendor, Neovasc Inc. The National Law Journal ranked this verdict as #6 for IP and #21 overall for verdicts that year. The court also granted CardiAQ co-founders Arshad Quadri, M.D. and Brent Ratz co-inventorship of the Neovasc transcatheter mitral valve patent. The decision made Edwards Lifesciences, which acquired CardiAQ for $400 million, co-owner of the Neovasc patent. Christy continues to represent Edwards Lifesciences in district court and before the PTAB. In addition, Christy represented and currently represents Smith & Nephew in numerous litigations and PTAB trials, including in the “negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) wars” against KCI/Wake Forest, as well as various orthopedics cases.
A formidable advocate both in and out of court, Christy is able to explain even the most sophisticated technologies to judges and juries alike, converting complex information into easily-understood straight-talk. She offers particular skill in working with, positioning, and maximizing fact and expert witnesses in critical patent litigation with hundreds of millions of dollars on the line. Hard-working, ingratiating, persuasive, and always prepared, Christy takes a personal interest in the individuals with whom she works and represents.
Christy has been recognized by numerous publications including, “IP Stars 2024” by Managing IP, a “Life Science Star” by Legal Media Group (LMG) Life Sciences, a “Woman to Watch” by the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), a “Top 10 Life Sciences Litigator” by Managing IP magazine, a top “Women in STEM” by the Orange County Business Journal, and a Super Lawyers magazine Southern California “Rising Star” in intellectual property law.
A fierce advocate for her clients, Christy embodies those beliefs beyond the office. An avid fundraiser for various charities, Christy serves on the Board of Directors for the Orange County Public Law Center, where she previously served as President of the Board and Co-Chair for the Volunteers for Justice Annual Fundraising Dinner. She also serves as a Co-Chair of the Orange County Bar Association Pro Bono Committee, as well as is a founding member of the firm’s Pro Bono and Diversity Committees. Beyond legal, Christy served on the Advisory Board for the Ole Miss School of Engineering and is a proud supporter of the American Heart Association Heart & Stroke Ball and Go Red for Women Luncheon. She has also traveled to El Salvador to throw teen orphans a quinceanera.
Clerk Experience
Honorable Jan Patterson, Justice of the Texas Third Court of Appeals, Intern Fall 1999
University of Texas School of Law, J.D., Raul F. Escandon Scholarship, Dean’s Achievement Award
University of Mississippi, B.S., Chemical Engineering, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, NASA Space Grant Scholar, Co-op Environmental Engineer for Vista Chemical Company
State Bar of California
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. District Court – Central District of California
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Medical Devices & Procedures
Cardiovascular
Catheters & Probes
Diagnostics
Imaging
Minimally Invasive & Endoscopic Procedures
Stents, Valves, & Loading Devices
Women’s Health & OB/GYN
Wound Care
Pharmaceuticals
Transportation & Vehicles
Automotive Transportation & Powersports
Transportation Equipment
Advertising, Media & Entertainment Practice
Appellate Litigation
Covered Business Method (CBM)
False & Comparative Advertising
False & Comparative Advertising Litigation
False Advertising Litigation
Hatch-Waxman Litigation
Inter Partes Review (IPR)
International Trade Commission (ITC) Disputes
Litigation
Patent Litigation
Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) Trials (Post Grant)
Post-Grant Review (PGR)
Trade Secret
Trade Secret & Employee Mobility Litigation
Trade Secret & Employee Mobility Litigation
Trademark & Brand Protection
Trademark Litigation & Unfair Competition
Trademark Litigation & Unfair Competition
Unfair Competition Litigation
Christy has received multiple awards for her legal accomplishments:
-
Received “Litigation Star” ranking in Benchmark Litigation’s U.S. Guide (2025)
- Recognized as a Patent Star in Managing IP’‘s “2024 IP STARS” (2024)
- Recognized as “Women in STEM” by Orange Country Business Journal (2024)
- Selected as a winner of Profiles In Diversity Journal’s 2023 “Women Worth Watching in Leadership Award”
- Recognized in the Orange County Business Journal Women in Business Awards (2023)
- Recognized as a “World IP Leader” by World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR) (2023 – 2024)
- Named an “Inspirational Woman” by the Los Angeles Times (2023)
- Named a “Leading Litigator – IP Litigation” in the 2023-2024 edition of Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Litigators in America” guide
- Recognized as a Patent Star in Managing IP’s “IP STARS” guide for her outstanding intellectual property legal work (2018-2023)
- Named the 2021 “Attorney of the Year” by the Orange County Women Lawyers Association (OCWLA) for her outstanding role in the legal community and proven commitment to advancing women in the legal profession, as well as women’s issues generally.
- Named a “Future Star” and “Local Litigation Star” in the Benchmark Litigation 2021-2020 and 2023 California Guide and a “Litigation Star” in the 2024 U.S Guide
- Named a “Top IP Lawyer” in 2020 and 2019 by the Daily Journal
- Recognized by The PTAB Bar Association as one of the “Top 50 Women in PTAB Trials” in 2019
- Named by The Legal 500 for Patent Litigation in 2019
- Named a “Life Science Star” by Legal Media Group (LMG) Life Sciences for Patent Litigation and Hatch-Waxman Litigation (2012-2018 and 2022-2024)
- Recognized as a “Woman to Watch” by the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) Women in IP Committee for her professional accomplishments, leadership in diversity, and the empowerment of women (2017)
- Named as one of the Top 10 Life Sciences Litigators in the United States by Managing IP magazine (2012)
- Named as one of Southern California’s “Rising Stars” in intellectual property law in a survey of her peers, published in Los Angeles magazine and Super Lawyers magazine (2006)
- Featured in the Los Angeles Daily Journal (2005)
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
