Alexander Piala, PhD, advises on a broad range of intellectual property matters, including patent litigation, patent prosecution and transaction due diligence. He has represented clients in matters involving drilling fluids, drill compacts, and other energy-sector technologies. He also has extensive experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical domains. His scientific background spans organic chemistry, biochemistry and protein structure/function relationships.

Alexander prosecutes patents across diverse technologies, including chemistry, software, electrochemistry, mechanical devices, and pharmaceuticals. He also conducts freedom-to-operate and patent portfolio analyses.

• Represented a DNA sequencing company in a patent jury trial in the District of Delaware. The favorable jury verdict, invalidating the four asserted patents, was affirmed on appeal (D. Del.) (CAFC)*
• Prosecuted drilling technology patents for a leading energy company*
• Represented a electronics company in a litigation relating to ultrasound technologies (D.Del)*
• Represented a cannabis company in a litigation relating to pharmaceutical cannabinoid products (ED.Tex.)*
• Represented a pharmaceutical company in a litigation relating to a treatment for pain (D.NJ)*

*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott.

Education
The University of Texas School of Law, JD, with honors, Order of the Coif, 2018
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, PhD, Molecular Biophysics, 2015
Middle Tennessee State University, MS, Chemistry, 2009
Binghamton University State University of New York, BS, Biochemistry, 2006

Admissions
Texas

Courts/Agencies
US Patent and Trademark Office
US District Court for the Western District of Texas
US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit