Jurgen K. Vollrath
SUMMARY
Mr. Vollrath has specialized in patent litigation and analysis for over 2 ½ decades and his experience includes a broad array of sophisticated patent legal services in positions including worldwide head of IP for a Fortune 50 company and partner in a national law firm. He has a BS in electronic engineering and brings a deep knowledge of technologies, from electronic hardware, software, medical devices, communications, renewable energy, and military defense. His legal experience and technical knowledge bring a highly sophisticated approach to patent claim interpretation and advocacy.
EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS
Partner at Arter & Hadden – establishing the patent group for the firm’s San Francisco office, and serving as 2nd chair in a $1.3 billion patent infringement/trade secret misappropriation case.
World Wide Intellectual Property Counsel of SAP’s patent group – restructuring and streamlining the company’s IP department, negotiating a global cross license with Microsoft and defining the IP strategy that has secured SAP’s position as market leader in the enterprise software space. Managed the operations of SAP’s global Intellectual Property department, leading a 20 person team; established Open Source support group; served as program manager for strategic initiatives to reduce litigation risk and ensure freedom to operate, and streamlined sponsored research globally. Revised and coordinated all university technology development agreements. Negotiated global patent cross-license with SAP’s main competitor, Microsoft. Reduced litigation risk through the integration of open source policies and guidelines for the use of nondisclosure agreements and joint development technology partnerships.
Senior IP counsel at National Semiconductor – creating the company’s first trademark group and heading up their licensing and M&A due diligence teams. Head of licensing group; supervised IP due diligence for the company’s three acquisitions; established and managed trademark department; headed up patent group for semiconductor processing; and established guidelines, templates and forms for trade secret training, trademark usage, and foreign patent filings. Reviewed and reported on patent litigation claims.
Co-founder of medical device company, Corinthian Ophthalmic, which went public in 2017 as EyeNovia.
Founder of IP commercialization company, Exponential Technology Counsel, promoting both established technology companies and supporting start-ups in defining effective exit strategies and positioning them for acquisition.
EDUCATION
JD, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
BS Electronic Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
BAR ADMISSIONS
State of California
Federal District Court for Northern District of California
US Patent & Trademark Office
South African Supreme Court