Charles Lee
Charles represents technology and life sciences companies in complex intellectual property (IP) disputes in US district courts and before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). His work centers on core-asset disputes involving patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation, technology licensing and commercialization disputes, and other IP- and data-driven business conflicts, particularly in cases involving cloud computing and virtualization, telecommunications and networking systems, cybersecurity and AI-enabled software.
Charles provides end-to-end counsel on complex technology disputes, from initial risk assessment, infringement and misappropriation analyses through discovery strategy, pretrial advocacy and trial preparation. He works collaboratively with in-house legal teams, engineers and technical stakeholders to evaluate IP assets and develop strategies that leverage his technical analysis in service of clients’ litigation objectives, prioritizing transparent real-time communication, quickly identifying and raising potential issues and advancing strategic solutions that strengthen his clients’ position at every stage of the litigation.
In advocating for his clients’ interests, Charles’ ability to translate complex technical concepts and product architectures into clear, persuasive narratives for the court spans disputes involving diverse technology, including software and data processing, wireless networking technologies, semiconductor and device-level circuitry, cybersecurity, medical devices and radiopharmaceuticals.
Charles brings an insider’s perspective on patent examination and adjudication to his litigation work, having previously served as a US patent examiner in the Displays Art Unit. He also completed a field placement with the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the ITC at the Office of Unfair Import Investigations (OUII). Before joining HSF Kramer, Charles practiced in the patent litigation groups of leading global law firms in California and Washington DC, where he was a part of trial teams in high-stakes patent and ITC Section 337 matters for technology and life sciences clients.
Charles is committed to pro bono work, in particular assisting veterans in securing disability benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Experience & capabilities
Selected matters
A global battery manufacturer in an ITC Section 337 investigation involving lithium-ion battery technology, securing a complete defense victory following trial
A tobacco company in two parallel matters in district court and before the ITC involving tobacco heating products and related components
A data management technology company in a patent infringement action in the District of Delaware involving backup and data protection technology, securing a favorable settlement
A cloud security company in inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board challenging patents relating to network security technology, resulting in the cancellation of the majority of the asserted claims
A cybersecurity company in a patent infringement action in district court involving network security technology, obtaining the dismissal of one of the asserted patents under 35 USC Section 101
A global mobile device company in an ITC Section 337 investigation involving wireless communication technology, securing a favorable settlement shortly after claim construction
A pharmaceutical company in preparing an antitrust complaint involving the market for nuclear medicine products
Background
Education
- J.D., American University – Washington College of Law, 2019
- Editor-in-Chief, American University Intellectual Property Brief
- Editor-in-Chief, American University Intellectual Property Brief
- M.S., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 2014
- B.S., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 2012
Bar Admissions
Professional Affiliations
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley (APABA Silicon Valley)
