Stephen M. Hankins

Stephen M. Hankins had his first patent case in 2000, but his related interests date back even further.

"Copyright, trademark and trade secret experiences arose more organically from my interests in art and employment law and date back to my first year as an attorney in 1991," he said.

Hankins takes particular pride in representing plaintiffs, both individuals and corporations, in enforcing their rights.

"Several cases are still pending, (for example the Johnson and Bardy matters), but those that we resolved provided vindication to our clients for infringement of IP rights often in multiple arenas at a time," Hankins said. "And I love the level of practice required of Federal Circuit arguments, where the depth of mastery -- both of the factual record as well as of the often-nuanced law -- always leads to a very fulfilling experience before a Court populated with an extremely knowledgeable and sophisticated judiciary."

In the Johnson matter, Hankins is representing the co-founder of Modern Health in wrongful termination case against unicorn mental health company. Erica Johnson v. Modern Health, et al, CGC-19-580960 (S.F. Sup. Ct., filed Nov. 22, 2019).

On Jan. 29 of this year Hankins' team prevailed on all claims brought for summary judgment in a 56-page order.

Hankins also represents plaintiff and innovator Bardy Diagnostics in a multi-patent infringement suit involving electrocardiograph sensors. On July 11, 2023 Hankins' team defeated institution of an IPR, and on Oct. 3, 2023, they prevailed in the new process of director review of the decision on institution.

Hankins said that in these and other cases, reduction of the technology and the facts, or the story, to their essence for efficient resolution and compelling trial advocacy is a necessary part of the process.

"This requires iterative approaches until the distillation has taken place," he said. "'Keep it simple'" is a trial advocacy hallmark that is at times hard to honor when dealing with a molecule or an inventor story that is protracted. Keeping everyone interested and involved so that the distillation has the benefit of everyone's input is sometimes difficult."