Michael J. Wise

Wise, who helps cutting-edge technology companies with patent proceedings, said he has been getting some interesting clients as of late. One included PAIGE.AI, an artificial intelligence startup that develops computational pathology to better diagnose illnesses.

The company’s learning system is said to create the first clinical-grade AI in pathology, which is designed to help doctors make decisions with greater speed and accuracy at a lower cost.

Wise provides a lot of “landscape analysis for companies wanting to enter markets, figuring out whether their patent portfolio fits into the market,” he said.

That includes advising biotech companies and e-cigarette manufacturers.

Recently, he has represented Fontem Holdings 1 B.V., which merged with Hon Lik, long recognized as the inventor of the electronic cigarette.

“We started enforcing that patent against the 10 biggest makers,” Wise said.

One of those companies was R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company. As part of the same case, Nu Mark LLC, an Altria subsidiary, confidentially settled in the same litigation.

The remaining action against R.J. Reynolds Vapor involves 15 U.S. patents pending in the Middle District of North Carolina. Overall, Wise and fellow counsel have defended Fontem in over 50 inter partes review petitions filed in the last five years. Fontem Ventures B.V. v. R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company, 16-CV1255 (M.D. N.C., filed Oct. 26, 2016).

Wise is also lead patent counsel for Radius Health Inc., a women’s health care company focusing on osteoporosis, oncology and endocrine diseases. Last year, it obtained a patent for an injection that treats osteoporosis.

“The venture side of the business is up, but patent enforcement litigation is down and I think that has been driven by the post-grant reviews system,” Wise said.

The post-grant review system, which includes inter partes review at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, “has been pretty effective in knocking down those patents and reducing litigations,” he said.

— Justin Kloczko