Clients credit John Lastova's deep technical knowledge, as well as his keen patent drafting and leveraging skills, for enhancing the value of their companies and for creating effective patent defenses.
John Lastova brings more than 35 years of hands-on patent experience to his IP practice at Nixon Vanderhye. A Shareholder since 1991 and a Managing Partner for over a decade, John helped lead the firm into the 21st century. Combining a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to run a business with an understanding of a client’s enterprises, industries, and objectives, he delivers forward-thinking, yet practical, IP counsel.
Experience
- Prepared and prosecuted a highly valued, worldwide portfolio of seminal optical interferometry sensing patents for a mid-sized company with medical, communications, and sensing applications. The patent portfolio, valued at nearly $100 million, rescued the company from bankruptcy.
- Prosecuted about 1,000 patents for a multinational semiconductor (CPUs, systems, and platforms) and software design company that derives its revenue from IP licensing royalties.
- Prepared and prosecuted many highly valued patents included in a larger portfolio of patents covering wireless communications technology licensed to cellular and other radio communications companies worldwide.
- Worked as patent counsel, along with trial counsel, to successfully defend a large U.S. stock exchange against patent infringement claims in a U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware case.
- Counseled, prepared, and prosecuted key U.S. and foreign patents for a startup company, resulting in the acquisition of crucial additional venture capital to develop products and continue R&D.
- Prepared briefs and witnesses for Markman hearing and trial before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. As a member of the trial team, John successfully asserted the client’s electronics patents in a victory against a defense contracting company.
- Appeared as a trial witness in a U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas infringement case on behalf of an international telecommunications company. John testified regarding noninfringement opinions he prepared concerning several complex radio communications patents.
- Prepared successful substantive patent defenses for a large consumer electronics and video gaming company against several different plaintiffs in Texas and Delaware district courts, and against a host of patent licensing entities in face-to-face negotiations.
- Served as an expert witness in litigation before a San Diego district court, opining on the validity of standard essential telecommunications patents.
Practices
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Patents
- Prosecution
- Post-Grant Proceedings
- Due Diligence
- Domestic and Worldwide Portfolio Management
- Enforcement
- PTAB Practice
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IP Litigation
- Patents
- IPRs, PGRs, CBMs, Reexams, and Derivations
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IP Transactions, Agreements, and Trade Secrets
- Licensing, Sales, and Assignments
- Non-Disclosure Agreements
- Due Diligence
- IP Audits
Industries
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Electrical & Computer Technology
- Computer Systems (Hardware, Software, & Firmware)
- Electronics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Semiconductors
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Communications & Data Transfer
- Telecommunications
- Cryptography
- Internet of Things
- Data Analytics
- Toys & Gaming
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Healthcare/Medical Devices
- Medical Devices
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Industrial & Manufacturing Systems & Products
- Power Generation
- Sensing and Measuring Systems & Devices
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Optical Devices & Systems
- Lasers
- Displays
Bar Admissions
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- Virginia
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Court Admissions
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- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. Patent and Trial Appeal Board (PTAB)
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
Education
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- J.D., with high honors, George Washington University, 1987
- B.S.E.E., magna cum laude, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 1982
Recognition
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- Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent rating