When biotech innovations and licenses lead to conflict—or companies need advice avoiding it—companies trust Anne Li for outside-the-box strategies. She represents clients whose groundbreaking products and services raise complex legal questions at the nexus of competitors and collaborators, including those times when one shifts to the other. She has significant experience in the biotech, pharma, life sciences, and medical device sectors, handling high-stakes litigation in patent, trade secret, and licensing disputes.
Anne frequently advises biotech, biologics, pharmaceutical, medical device, and technology companies on all aspects of intellectual property law—patents, trade secrets, unfair competition, trademarks, contract disputes, and licenses. Her goal is always to reach a good business resolution. But when that is not possible, she zealously advocates for her clients in district court, at the International Trade Commission, at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or anywhere the case takes her. She has successfully represented companies in bet-the-company litigations, often scoring key wins long before trial, resulting in favorable settlements.
Companies rely on Anne to help them navigate the intersection of intellectual property and business because she provides in-house counsel with patent, unfair competition, and trade secret advice that is practical and actionable. She takes time to learn a client’s business—from biotech startups to multibillion-dollar pharmaceutical companies and everything in between—so she can help them develop bespoke strategies that work for their unique situations.
Clients also appreciate Anne’s ability to match legal strategies with their risk tolerance and business objectives. Her approach is informed by her commitment to developing long-standing relationships with in-house counsel and her knowledge of the industry and related technologies.
Anne is co-chair of Crowell’s Life Sciences Practice Group and a member of the Pro Bono Committee.
Affiliations
Professional Activities and Memberships
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Vice-Chair, Medical Devices, ABA Science & Technology Law Section, 2017 – 2018
- New York Intellectual Property Law Association
- Executive Committee, William C. Conner Inn of Court
Representative Matters
- Secured a significant victory (a preliminary injunction against patent infringement through trial) on behalf of Lonza Walkersville Inc. against Israel-based Adva Biotechnology Ltd. in a case involving point-of-care cell-therapy technology.
- Successfully defended Agilent against a preliminary injunction filed by Waters Corp. by demonstrating that Waters was unlikely to succeed on the merits. The case ultimately settled.
- Successfully represented a large pharmaceutical company in a false advertising and unfair competition case.
Recent Highlights, News & Knowledge
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"Describing “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” for Genus Claims?,"
Intellectual Property Bullet Analyses
(February 1, 2023).
Contacts: Anne Elise Herold Li, Judy He
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Client Alert / Newsletter |
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"License Agreement Lessons From Ford Trade Secrets Case,"
Law360
(December 14, 2022).
Authors: Anne Elise Herold Li, and Mariam Sarwar.
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Publication |
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"How To Minimize Risk When Launching Smart Medical Devices,"
Law360
(September 13, 2022).
Authors: Anne Li, John Fuson, and Garylene Javier.
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Publication |
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Chambers USA 2022 Ranks 70 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 37 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
(June 1, 2022)
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Firm News / Announcement |
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"Patents Or Trade Secrets? How To Choose The Best IP Safeguard For R&D Assets,"
Life Science Leader
(May 2, 2022).
Author: Anne Elise Herold Li.
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Publication |
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"An NDA Leads to the Loss of Trade Secrets, a Failed Deal and No Recourse,"
Crowell & Moring’s Trade Secrets Trends
(April 21, 2022).
Authors: Crinisha B. Berry and Anne Elise Herold Li.
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Publication |
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"Patentability Of Inventions Involving AI In Health Care Is Becoming A Key—And Complex—Issue,"
Law.com
(April 5, 2022).
Authors: Deborah H. Yellin, Anne Elise Herold Li, Michelle Chipetine, and Rashad L. Morgan.
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Publication |
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Standing To Sue Can Be Roadblock To Pursuing Patent Infringement Claims
— Technology Transfer Tactics (February, 2022)
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Press Coverage |
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LITIGATION NOTE: Crowell & Moring Secures Preliminary Injunction for Lonza in Ground-Breaking Cell Therapy Patent Infringement Case
(January 27, 2022)
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Firm News / Announcement |
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"CRISPR: Maximizing This Revolutionary Genetic Tool While Minimizing IP Risk,"
Pharmaceutical Executive
(January 26, 2022).
Author: Anne Li.
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Publication |