Rita Yoon focuses her practice on high-stakes IP litigation and International Trade Commission (ITC) investigations. She has successfully represented the largest tech companies in the world, including in the fintech, banking, internet, software, smartphone, semiconductor, wireless communications, automotive, and biotech industries and successfully litigated issues concerning standard essential patents (SEPs) and fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. In her seven patent and antitrust trials, Rita has successfully defended clients against billions of dollars in damages and injunctions.
Rita has significant experience litigating software patents — having represented amicus curiae in the game-changing Supreme Court case, Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank Int'l, 134 S. Ct. 2347 (2014). She is active in all phases of litigation from pre-lawsuit investigations through trial and appeal to the Federal Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.
In addition to litigation, Rita counsels clients on patent monetization strategies in emerging technologies, including blockchain and related technologies. Rita also was selected as a secondee attorney to one of the world's largest semiconductor companies.
Experience
The following represents experience acquired prior to joining Jones Day.
Trial counsel for leading headset manufacturer in a $600 million antitrust action, where jury returned a complete defense verdict in favor of the client after less than a day of deliberations.
Trial counsel for smartphone manufacturer in successfully defending against a multipatent infringement action, defeating $48 million damages claim following a six-day jury trial.
Trial counsel for smartphone manufacturer in successfully defending against a multipatent infringement action, where following a two-week jury trial, the jury rendered a complete defense verdict on patent infringement and invalidity.
Trial counsel for smartphone manufacturer in successfully defending against a multipatent infringement action, where in the third week of trial, plaintiff dismissed the case in its entirety just before closing arguments.
Trial counsel for leading pharmaceutical company in patent infringement action over heartburn medication, successfully obtaining judgment of noninfringement in favor of client.
Trial counsel for leading pharmaceutical company in a Hatch-Waxman action over narcolepsy medication, resulting in a favorable settlement for the client.
Appellate counsel for amicus curiae Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago urging U.S. Supreme Court to clarify standard for patent eligibility of computer-implemented claims.
Appellate counsel for leading Wi-Fi network solutions provider in successful appeal to the Federal Circuit, resulting in affirmance of jury verdict of infringement and validity in favor of the client.
Appellate counsel for leading furniture manufacturer in successful appeal that resulted in affirmance that the case was "exceptional" and merited an award of millions in attorneys' fees.
- Northwestern University (J.D. 2008; Arlyn Miner Book Award for legal writing); University of Southern California (B.A. in Journalism 1997; Resident Honors Program)
- Illinois, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Federal and Third Circuits, and U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois and Eastern District of Texas