Ernest Yakob

ernest.yakob@lw.com

+1.212.906.1370

Profile

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.

Experience

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

Qualifications

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

Practices

Industries

Healthcare & Life Sciences

January 9, 2025 Recognition

Litigators of the Week Winner: Defending Against a US$290 Million Claim and Scoring a US$116 Million Win in Drug Patent Fight

A Latham team led by Mike Morin and David Frazier won the “Litigators of the Week” competition, alongside co-counsel at Finnegan, for their outstanding defense against a US$290 million patent infringement claim and securing a US$116 million award on behalf of Sarepta Therapeutics, in a one-week timed trial in Delaware.

October 6, 2022 Recognition

Litigation Department of the Year, Intellectual Property: Latham & Watkins

Our Intellectual Property Litigation practice received this prestigious award for securing a number of successes over the past year “on all fronts across the spectrum of IP disputes and jurisdictions from coast to coast."

January 2, 2025 In the News

Nippon Owes US$115 Million in Muscular Dystrophy IP Fight, Jury Says

Latham secured a US$115 million verdict for Sarepta Therapeutics and the University of Western Australia in a patent infringement claim against Nippon Shinyaku.

December 20, 2024 In the News

Latham, Finnegan Win US$115 Million Muscular Dystrophy Drug Patent Verdict for Counterclaimant

A Delaware federal jury has determined a Japanese pharmaceutical company owes a Massachusetts-based drug developer more than US$115 million for patent infringement, marking a win for Latham & Watkins and Finnegan, who represented Sarepta Therapeutics.

November 14, 2024 Webcast