Overview
Dr. Stephen M. Hash focuses his practice on life science litigation including cases involving pharmaceuticals and Paragraph IV disputes under the Hatch-Waxman Act. He has represented clients in numerous patent litigations, including cases relating to DNA sequencing technologies, cfDNA diagnostics, agricultural products, research tools, medical devices and numerous pharmaceutical products, including drugs for the treatment of migraine, sepsis, epilepsy, bipolar disorder, acne, Alzheimer’s, ADHD, and pain. He handles all phases of Paragraph IV disputes, including the cost-effective management of cases, from pretrial through trial and appeal.
Stephen has a strong technical background in life sciences with a particular focus on immunology and molecular biology.
Results
Patent Litigation
- Served as lead trial counsel for 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)
- Served as lead counsel in ITC investigations relating to nanopore sequencing technology. The summary determination of non-infringement was affirmed on appeal (ITC) (CAFC)
- Served as lead counsel and tried a Hatch-Waxman case in which a pharmaceutical company defended its patents relating to a treatment for pain (D.NJ)*
- Served as lead counsel in Hatch-Waxman litigations in which a pharmaceutical company defended its patents covering a migraine therapy in the first Paragraph IV litigations tried in the Eastern District of Texas; affirmances of judgment were granted in two separate appeals (E.D. Tex.); (CAFC)*
- Served as lead counsel in Hatch-Waxman litigations relating to numerous pharmaceutical products including those for the treatment of pain, epilepsy, bipolar disorder, acne, Alzheimer’s, ADHD, end stage renal disease and cancer (D.NJ) (D.Mass.) (D. Del.) (N.D. Tex.)*
- Represented a food products manufacturer in a patent litigation and attendant inter partes reexamination that included an appeal to and argument before the PTAB; the PTAB reversed the examiner and entered a new rejection of all pending claims (E.D. Tex.) *
- Served as lead trial counsel for a dry groceries manufacturer in a patent infringement case involving plant sterols; sought transfer of the case from its originally filed jurisdiction to the defendant’s home forum, and meanwhile, filed an ex parte reexamination request with the USPTO; the Court in the transferee forum then stayed the case pending reexamination, resulting in the cancellation of all of the asserted patent’s claims (D. Me.) (E. D. WI) *
- Represented a consumer products company in a litigation relating to dental materials (D. MN) *
- Represented a consumer products company in a litigation relating to an automotive after-market product (D. MN) *
- Represented a plant biotechnology company in patent litigations relating to genetically modified plants (D. D.C.) *
- Represented a biotechnology company in a multipatent infringement litigation filed in the Eastern District of Texas, relating to the use of labeled oligonucleotide primers in PCR (E.D. Tex.) *
- Represented a Swedish medical device company in litigations relating to medical imaging and patient data management (S.D. Cal.) (E.D. Wis.) *
- Represented a grocery retailer in a design patent and trade dress case relating to a children’s product (E.D. Tex.) *
- Represented a media company in a patent infringement case related to photographic images and information displayed on the floor—which is a significant source of revenue for the client—favorable ruling on claim construction; subsequently, the plaintiff conceded that it could not prove infringement, and the court entered a final judgment of dismissal (E.D. Tex.); (Fir. Cir.) *
- Represented a Danish biotechnology company in a patent infringement case relating to genetically-engineered enzymes used to make fuel ethanol; the patent was held invalid for lack of written description at the trial court level and affirmed on appeal (W.D. Wis.) *
International Trade Commission Litigation
- Representing a DNA sequencing company in patent investigation before the ITC, securing an MSD of noninfringement which was affirmed on appeal*
- Representing a DNA sequencing company in patent investigation before the ITC relating to nanopore sequencing technology, resulting in a favorable settlement for the client*
- Represented a large retail grocery in patent investigation before the ITC relating to multiple mode (solid and gas fueled) outdoor grills, resulting in a favorable settlement for the client*
Patent Post-Grant Proceedings
- Represented a pharmaceutical company in eight IPR proceedings related to challenges to patents covering pharmaceutical products, successfully avoiding institution in six of the cases, and prevailing at trial on the other two*
- Represented a research tools company in four inter partes reexaminations related to high-throughput sequencing that resulted in rejections of all challenged patent claims through Actions Closing Prosecution in less than 12 months from filing of initial requests*
- Represented a global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated chemicals in an arbitration involving patents directed to photocurable resins for use in stereolithography, resulting in a favorable settlement for the client*
*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott.
Recognitions
- Managing Intellectual Property, IP Stars, 2014 to 2023
- The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Austin, 2024
- Texas Super Lawyer, 2014 to 2019
Credentials
Education
University of North Carolina School of Law, JD, with honors, 1999
Texas A & M University, PhD, Immunology, 1997
North Carolina State University, MS, Zoology, 1991
North Carolina State University, BSc, Zoology, 1989
Admissions
Texas
Courts/Agencies
US Patent and Trademark Office
US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
US District Court for the Northern District of Texas
US District Court for the Southern District of Texas
US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
US District Court for the Western District of Texas
US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin