Patrick Michael, IP Attorney in San Francisco, California
focused on IP and Trade Secrets
ShareholderatGreenberg Traurig, LLP
San Francisco, CA
Trusted ip attorney serving San Francisco.
Practices in
Are you Patrick Michael?
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Quick answer
Patrick Michael is a shareholder based in San Francisco, CA. The practice focuses on IP and Trade Secrets. Currently practicing at Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
- Based in
- San Francisco, CA
- Experience
- attorney
- Known for
- IP · Trade Secrets
- Handles IP and Trade Secrets matters from San Francisco, CA.
About Patrick Michael: Patrick Michael is a shareholder based in San Francisco, CA. The practice focuses on IP and Trade Secrets. Currently practicing at Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Areas of practice
Legal matters Patrick takes on
Patrick concentrates on ip and trade secrets. Each area below outlines the kind of case Patrick handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.
IP cases in San Francisco, California
Patrick takes ip matters in San Francisco, California. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Patrick agrees to represent you.
Trade Secrets cases in San Francisco, California
Patrick takes trade secrets matters in San Francisco, California. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Patrick agrees to represent you.
Biography
Meet Patrick Michael — ip lawyer in San Francisco
Patrick Michael is a shareholder based in San Francisco, CA. The practice focuses on IP and Trade Secrets. Currently practicing at Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Patrick Michael is a trial lawyer who litigates intellectual property and technology cases, including patent infringement actions, trade secret disputes, copyright matters, and licensing conflicts, for both plaintiffs and defendants. He handles matters involving a wide range of technologies, including integrated circuits, electronic design automation, software, semiconductor fabrication processes/tools, computer networking, medical devices, and biotech and life science products. Patrick has first-chaired multiple high-stakes trials and international arbitrations, representing major technology companies in patent, copyright, and trade secret litigation throughout the United States.
Patrick handles cases involving semiconductor technologies, EDA place-and-route technology, vulnerability databases, virtual storage platforms, fiber optic cable technologies, FPGA technologies, integrated circuit testing, clock synthesizer technology, proprietary database structures, plasma etch reactors, protocol analyzer technologies, and optical endpoint detection systems.
Experience
Representative Matters
• Obtained plaintiff judgment for major software company after bench trial on defendant’s claims of equitable estoppel in competitor case involving EDA place-and-route technology.°
• Obtained plaintiff award for major EDA company after international arbitration on defendant’s claims of a license defense in competitor patent infringement action.°
• Obtained unanimous defense verdict for national laboratory after a three-week jury trial in a trade secret misappropriation action involving nanotechnology for use in inertial confinement fusion.°
• Obtained plaintiff award for medical device company in a trade secret misappropriation international arbitration involving devices for hand assisted laparoscopic surgery.°
• Represented major EDA company in competitor multipatent infringement action involving semiconductor place-and-route technology.°
• Represented major software company in competitor patent infringement, copyright infringement, and breach of contract action involving EDA and semiconductor IP technologies.°
• Represented major software company in multivenue competitor actions for alleged trade secret misappropriation and various contractual claims relating to software security technologies.°
• Won summary judgment of no trade secret misappropriation on eve of trial for major software company in competitor case involving vulnerability databases and related technologies.°
• Represented international data storage company in defense of multiple claims arising from major data center outage related to virtual storage platform and fiber optic cable technologies.°
• Won summary judgment and excluded plaintiff’s expert on eve of trial for semiconductor company in patent infringement action involving FPGA technologies, which ended multidistrict litigation battle.°
• Obtained defense judgment for semiconductor company in patent infringement action involving integrated circuit testing technology, which was affirmed on appeal by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.°
• Represented large semiconductor company and obtained multiple victories in patent infringement action, including at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, resulting in a royalty free CNS.°
• Represented semiconductor company in defense of patent infringement case involving clock synthesizer technology and on Federal Circuit appeal affirming all claims as unpatentable.°
• Obtained judgment and injunction for large internet company in multivenue patent infringement and trade secret actions involving proprietary database structures and technologies.°
• Represented semiconductor manufacturing equipment company in assertion of patent infringement action involving technologies for plasma etch reactors.°
• Obtained TRO, seizure order, and injunction for hardware company in direct competitor action for trade secret misappropriation involving protocol analyzer technologies.°
• Represented semiconductor manufacturing equipment company in enforcing patents and in defense of action for inventorship involving optical endpoint detection systems.°
• Obtained plaintiff verdict of $30.4 million for a major software company after three-week jury trial in a competitor copyright and patent infringement case involving EDA place-and-route technology.°
• Obtained defense award for biopharma client in an international arbitration on a patent license and trade secret dispute involving drug discovery technology in which plaintiff sought $500m in damages.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Michael prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Recognition & Leadership
Awards & Accolades
• Recognized, Acritas Stars, Acritas Stars Independently Rated Lawyers, 2020
• Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Intellectual Property: Patents: Litigation, 2020
• Listed, Daily Journal, Top Intellectual Property Lawyers in California, 2017
• Recognized, Legal Services for Children, Pro Bono Advocate Award
Professional & Community Involvement
• Member, California Bar Association
o Member, Business Law Section
o Member, Intellectual Property Law Section
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, San Francisco Bar Association
• Member, Intellectual Property Law Association
Patrick's approach to ip cases
Patrick Michael is a trial lawyer who litigates intellectual property and technology cases, including patent infringement actions, trade secret disputes, copyright matters, and licensing conflicts, for both plaintiffs and defendants. He handles matters involving a wide range of technologies, including integrated circuits, electronic design automation, software, semiconductor fabrication…
The kind of cases Patrick takes
Patrick reviews new inquiries case-by-case for ip and trade secrets matters in San Francisco and the surrounding California area.
Credentials
Education, bar admissions, and languages
Pepperdine University School of Law
J.D. · 1993
University of California at Santa Barbara
B.A. Business · 1989
Patrick studied at J.D. in Pepperdine University School of Law and B.A. Business in University of California at Santa Barbara.
Law school and academic background
Patrick completed J.D. in Pepperdine University School of Law and B.A. Business in University of California at Santa Barbara. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice Patrick runs in California is where that training gets applied to real client questions.
Locations
Patrick Michael's office in San Francisco
Patrick's primary office is at 101 Second Street, Suite 2200, San Francisco, CA, 94105. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
101 Second Street, Suite 2200
San Francisco, CA 94105
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Client reviews of Patrick Michael
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Schedule your consultationHiring guide
How to hire Patrick Michael — what to expect in your first consultation
Working with a new ip attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with Patrick usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.
Consultation formats and pricing
Patrick charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain Patrick's office.
What to bring to your first meeting
Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; Patrick will tell you what matters and what doesn't.
Questions to ask a ip attorney in San Francisco, California
A short list to run through before you commit: How many ip matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?
Fees & payment
Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for Patrick
Patrick discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in ip practice — ask which fits.
Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options
Every ip matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. Patrick confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.
Payment methods and payment plans
Patrick's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many ip practices work with clients on structured schedules.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about Patrick Michael
How much does it cost to hire Patrick for a ip case?
Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Patrick walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.
Does Patrick offer a free consultation?
Patrick charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Patrick's office. Some ip attorneys offer free consults — check Patrick's current terms during booking.
How long do ip cases in California typically take?
Simple ip matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Patrick gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.
Can Patrick take my case if I'm outside San Francisco?
Patrick is licensed in California. Matters governed by California law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Patrick will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.
What should I bring to my first meeting with Patrick?
Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Patrick will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.
Is Patrick accepting new ip clients right now?
Patrick's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.
Areas served
IP attorneys serving San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego in California
Patrick handles ip matters throughout California. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified ip attorneys in that community.
- San Francisco26,380 attorneys
- Los Angeles39,975 attorneys
- San Diego16,903 attorneys
- Sacramento10,561 attorneys
- Irvine6,831 attorneys
- Oakland5,709 attorneys
- San Jose5,009 attorneys
- Palo Alto4,084 attorneys
- Beverly Hills3,348 attorneys
- Newport Beach3,106 attorneys
- Pasadena2,894 attorneys
- Santa Monica2,756 attorneys
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