Sara O’Connell is a former federal prosecutor who advocates for clients in disputes over intellectual property matters and helps those navigating internal and federal government investigations. Her record includes successfully trying to verdict federal jury and bench trials, a dozen appellate victories, and negotiating numerous favorable settlements and resolutions.

Sara’s intellectual property practice focuses primarily on clients in high-tech industries engaged in litigation over patent infringement, trade secret misappropriation and other related matters. Examples of technologies addressed in her recent cases are wireless communication, media processors, location-based software, and computer telephony.

Her government investigations and white collar defense practice concentrates on advising and defending individuals and corporations involved in internal investigations and in civil regulatory and criminal investigations by government entities such as SEC, DOD and DOJ.

Representative cases include the following:

Intellectual Property Matters:

• Seven Networks LLC v. ZTE (USA) Inc. and ZTE Corp., 3:17CV1495-M (N.D. Tex.). Defended client in patent infringement case regarding cell signal optimization, power savings, and phone alarms. Successful resolution on the eve of trial.

• Maxell Ltd. v. ZTE Corp. and ZTE USA Inc., 5:16CV00179-RWS (E.D. Tex.). Defended client in patent infringement case in fields including battery storage, GPS location services, and digital camera image stabilization. Successful resolution after two-week trial.

• Landmark Technology LLC v. Canada Drugs LP, 16CV558 (S.D. Cal.). Sole attorney for defendant in trademark infringement case, resulting in dismissal with prejudice.

• Nuki, Inc. v. Delsey Luggage, Inc., 16CV1997 (S.D. Cal.). Defended client in allegations of design patent infringement. Resulted in dismissal with prejudice.

• American Automobile Association v. Zaid, CV 14‐4040 (C.D. Cal.). Sole attorney for plaintiff in trademark infringement case, resulting in domain name transfer to client.

• Invenger Tech. v. Enservio, Inc., CV 13‐04828 (C.D. Cal). Defended plaintiff‐counter‐defendant against trade secret theft and contractual interference claims, resulting in favorable settlement.

• Linex Tech. Inc. v. Hewlett Packard Co. et al., 13‐cv‐00159 (N.D. Cal.) Defended client in case regarding wireless digital communication, resulting in summary judgment and costs award.

• Microunity Systems Engineering, Inc. v. Apple Inc., et. al., 2:10-cv-91-DF (E.D. Tex.). Defended Texas Instruments in case regarding media processors, resulting in favorable settlement.

• AAA v. Zaidenberg, 2:14-cv-04040 (C.D. Cal. 2015). Brought trademark infringement claim on behalf of client, resulting in domain name transfer despite adverse WIPO ruling.

• In the Matter of Certain Digital Media Devices, Including Televisions, Blu-Ray Disc Players, Home Theater Systems, Tablets and Mobile Phones, Components Thereof and Associated Software, Inv. No. 337-TA-882. Defended Samsung Electronics Co. in patent infringement claim against Black Hills Media, LLC, resulting in noninfringement ruling.

Compliance, Government Investigations and White Collar Defense Matters:

• Retained to help multiple corporations navigate internal and government investigations, including potential violations of False Claims Act (FCA), Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and federal securities laws.

• Represented health care executive in investigation by U.S. Department of Justice.

• Represented biotech corporation in investigation by U.S. Department of Justice.

• Represented potential investor in energy corporation under investigation by U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

• Negotiated favorable settlement with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in case alleging insider trading by corporate executive.

• Represented defense contractor in internal investigation by Naval Special Warfare Command.

• USA v. Leonard Glenn Francis, 13‐cr‐03782 (S.D. Cal.). Post‐indictment representation of defendant charged with bribery and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Related indictments of 32 U.S. Navy officers and personnel.

• United States of America, ex. rel. Javier Lim v. Salient Federal Solutions, Inc., Salient CRGT Holdings, Inc., and DOES 1-100, 16CV740-GPC-AGS (S.D. Cal.). Represented defendant in ENE hearing regarding False Claims Act claims; favorable resolution achieved.

• Receiver v. Catipays, 17CV4347 (C.D. Cal.). Represented Court-Appointed Receiver for PLCMGMT LLC dba Prometheus Law in civil cases seeking claw backs of fraudulently-transferred funds related to investigations by U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

• USA v. Kaplan, 13‐cr‐00377 (D. Nev.). Represented pharmaceutical company in trial regarding conspiracy to commit adulteration with intent to defraud.