Zachary M. Briers

Although only admitted to practice in 2012, Zachary M. Briers has recently led the defense of patent claims against major technology companies, including Google, Intel and Dell.

But unlike many patent litigators, Briers spends about half his time handling large transactions for tech companies.

He noted that Munger Tolles prides itself on not squeezing its attorneys into practice silos. Another reason for his split practice is that "I'm just a curious guy," he said. "I have a hard time saying no to new work or new challenges and projects."

Initially, he assisted other partners, handling tech transactions. But he discovered an interest and aptitude for the work, so he developed it into a significant part of his practice, he said. For instance, in 2021, he helped Weta Digital sell its visual effects software to Unity Software for $1.625 billion.

He also advised Intel on the sale of its NAND memory business to Korean chipmaker SK Hynix. "That was an exceptionally complicated transaction because it was cross-border, but it also had to be structured two closings," Briers said. The first part closed in December 2021, and the second closing is set for next spring.

More recently, he has been representing high-net individuals and philanthropic organizations, including one involved in the research and development of new immunotherapies.

On the litigation side of his practice, Briers, in January, obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of Dell to end litigation brought by a nonpracticing entity over eight patents related to the Wi-Fi 6 standard. Atlas Global Tech. LLC v. Dell Tech. Inc., 6:23-cv-00350-ADA (W.D. Tex., filed May 12, 2023).

He defended Intel in litigation brought by a university professor in Japan who held a patent related to configuring lookup tables in programmable logic devices. The professor sought royalties on billions in Intel chip sales. After Briers convinced the PTAB to institute challenges to the patent in November, the case settled. Iida v. Intel Corp., 6:22-cv-00662 (W.D. Tex., filed June 24, 2022).

Briers has successfully represented Google in several matters recently, including in August, winning the dismissal with prejudice of litigation over network security patents. That case is now on appeal. CTD Networks LLC. v. Google LLC, 23-2428 (Fed. Circ., filed Sept. 27, 2023).

His most high-profile case at the moment is not about patents. He is defending online retailer quince.com, which has been sued for trademark infringement by the three-Michelin-star restaurant Quince in San Francisco. Briers' motion to dismiss is set to be argued next month. Quince & Co LLC v. Last Brand Inc., 3:23-cv-06016 (N.D. Cal., filed Nov. 21, 2023).

-- Don DeBenedictis