Dr. Ernest Yakob advises major life sciences companies on matters related to patent and intellectual property litigation, drawing on years of experience in both the lab and the law.

Ernest handles patent disputes for life sciences companies in district courts, as well as inter partes review and post-grant review proceedings before the US Patent and Trademark Office. He also routinely advises clients on a wide range of IP matters, including patent prosecution and opinions, as well as IP licensing and due diligence.

As a registered patent attorney with a doctorate in microbiology and immunology as well as complementary academic degrees in chemical engineering and molecular biology, Ernest advises clients with a sophisticated understanding of the underlying products.

Ernest's experience includes advising:

  • Merck in patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation suits adverse to Pfizer, and inter partes review and post-grant review proceedings adverse to Pfizer and GSK, relating to pneumococcal vaccines* 
  • Merck Animal Health and Kansas State University Research Foundation in district court litigation and post-grant review proceeding adverse to Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health involving porcine circovirus 3 patent
  • Biogen and Alkermes in Hatch-Waxman litigation relating to multiple sclerosis drug
  • BASF in patent infringement suit relating to omega-3 fatty acids*
  • Santen Pharmaceutical, Asahi Glass, and Oak Pharmaceuticals in Hatch-Waxman litigation and inter partes review involving glaucoma drugs*
  • Depomed, Inc. in patent infringement suit and inter partes reviews relating to Depomed’s innovative gastric retentive drug technology* 
  • Penford Corporation in patent infringement suit relating to phosphorylated resistant starches*

*Matter handled prior to joining Latham

Bar Qualification

  • New York
  • US Patent and Trademark Office

Education

  • PhD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 2015
  • BS, Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Science, 1999
  • JD, Columbia Law School, 1999