Sheppard announced another significant addition to its Intellectual Property (IP) practice group with the arrival of a 15-lawyer litigation team from Perkins Coie, further solidifying Sheppard as the leading firm for high-stakes patent litigation and trials.
This exceptional team of trial lawyers is led by partners Veronica Ascarrunz, Robin Brewer, Andrew Klein, Tom Millikan and Joseph Reid, and includes 10 special counsel and associates. The team has led many of the most high-profile and complex patent litigation cases in courts around the country, including before the International Trade Commission (ITC). Renowned for executing seamless multi-forum litigation strategies, the group combines expertise in ITC investigations, district court litigation and Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) proceedings. Their deep experience in Standard-Essential Patents (SEPs) and Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory (FRAND) matters complements Sheppard’s reputation as the go-to firm for these highly complex disputes on behalf of technology companies.
The team will be based across the firm’s Washington, D.C., Del Mar, San Francisco and Silicon Valley offices, further expanding the firm’s national IP litigation footprint. This strategic growth follows the addition of a 21-lawyer IP litigation team from Ropes & Gray, a trio of IP patent litigation and prosecution partners also from Perkins Coie and trademark partner Thomas Hadid from Morrison Foerster in 2025.
“The arrival of Veronica, Robin, Andrew, Tom, Joe and their team reinforces Sheppard’s position as the destination practice for high-stakes IP litigation serving the most sophisticated national and global clients,” said Luca Salvi, chair of Sheppard. “With one of the largest and most preeminent patent litigation practices in the country, this team further enhances our ability to deliver winning results for innovation-driven clients in their most critical disputes.”
“We are intentional about investing in capabilities that matter to our clients when they face the most complex and consequential disputes,” said Wynter Deagle, co-leader of Sheppard’s Intellectual Property practice group. “The addition of this team with first-chair trial experience and a track record of delivering innovative, multi-forum litigation strategies strengthens our platform in patent litigation and underscores our commitment to delivering innovative, trial-ready strategies at scale. We are thrilled to welcome them to the firm.”
Millikan, who has worked closely with Sheppard attorneys for several years on behalf of Amazon in SEP/FRAND disputes against Nokia and InterDigital, added, “Sheppard has long been a destination for clients seeking innovative solutions in high-stakes IP disputes, and joining the firm allows us to combine our team’s strengths, particularly in trials and SEP/FRAND licensing disputes. Together, we are uniquely positioned to deliver unparalleled value and results for our clients.”
Ascarrunz and Brewer, who will co-lead Sheppard’s ITC practice, added, “Patent disputes play a critical role in today’s business landscape, with an increasing number of cases before the ITC. It is clear that IP is a strategic priority at Sheppard. We are excited to be part of the momentum and to collaborate with the firm’s exceptionally talented team to deliver even greater value to clients in key forums.” Ascarrunz and Brewer are nationally recognized ITC litigators and earlier this year published a treatise through Matthew Bender on ITC and Customs Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights.
Ascarrunz, based in Washington, D.C., will co-lead Sheppard’s ITC practice with Brewer. She has more than two decades of experience representing clients in high-technology industries, including semiconductor, medical devices, telecommunications, pharmaceutical, software and consumer products technology. She has secured successful outcomes for dozens of clients in Section 337 ITC investigations at all stages, from early resolution through trial and appeal. She is the former chair of Perkins Coie’s ITC Litigation practice and past president of the ITC Trial Lawyers Association, and she is consistently ranked among leading practitioners by Chambers USA. She also handles patent infringement litigation, product development license disputes and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) inter partes review proceedings. She earned her B.S. from Georgetown University and her J.D., cum laude, from George Mason University, Antonin Scalia Law School.
Brewer, based in San Francisco, will serve as co-leader of the firm’s ITC practice with Ascarrunz. She is a patent litigator with deep technical expertise and a proven track record of delivering wins in technology disputes before the ITC and in district courts. She is frequently brought into active cases to help marshal people and processes and carve out the path to victory. She has won on critical issues before the ITC that have become regularly cited precedent. Lauded by Chambers USA as a leading practitioner, clients and colleagues alike rely on her to strategize, develop legal solutions and draft winning arguments. She earned her B.A., cum laude, in engineering science and B.E. in biomedical engineering from Dartmouth College, her D.E.A. (Master’s equivalent) in mechanical engineering from the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées and her J.D., with honors, from the George Washington University Law School.
Klein, based in Silicon Valley, is a trial lawyer who clients trust with their most important IP disputes, including SEP/FRAND disputes. Klein has extensive experience in complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes, having handled and coordinated cases before the ITC, the PTAB, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and federal district courts nationwide. Known for translating complex technical issues into compelling trial narratives, he has litigated cases spanning cloud security, telecommunications video coding, acoustics and computer systems. He is adept at understanding each client’s unique legal and business needs and crafting winning strategies to achieve them. He earned his B.A., magna cum laude, from California State University, Long Beach and his J.D., cum laude, from University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.
Millikan, based in Del Mar, is a first-chair trial lawyer who focuses on high-stakes patent disputes involving cutting-edge technologies, with a particular emphasis on SEPs and complex, multi-jurisdictional litigation. He has extensive experience leading trials and litigating patent cases in federal district courts, the ITC, and the PTAB, including coordinating parallel proceedings to advance cohesive, trial-ready strategies. Clients rely on Millikan not only for trial execution but also for the ability to translate highly technical concepts into compelling narratives for judges and juries. He earned his B.S. in electrical engineering and minor in mathematics, cum laude, from the University of Cincinnati and his J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law.
Reid, based in Del Mar, has practiced in district courts nationwide, the ITC, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the USPTO. He is a persuasive litigator known for crafting compelling briefs that have earned praise from federal judges. His practice focuses on patent litigation, trial matters and high-end prosecution work, including inter partes reviews and portfolio strategy. With extensive experience in multi-defendant cases and those involving industry standards, Reid has handled dozens of matters, including 12 that culminated in a jury or bench trial. He represents clients across a wide range of technologies, including software, semiconductors, medical devices and wireless networking. He previously served as Del Mar office managing partner at Perkins Coie. Reid earned his B.S. in biology, with distinction, from Duke University, his M.S. in physiology from the University of California, Davis and his J.D., cum laude, from Notre Dame Law School.
About Sheppard’s Intellectual Property Practice Group
Sheppard is a recognized leader in protecting and maximizing the value of intellectual property rights. Our team combines deep technical knowledge with strategic insight to help clients safeguard innovation and capitalize on commercial opportunities. We offer comprehensive expertise across all areas of IP law, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, false advertising, unfair competition, counterfeiting and grey market issues. Our litigators have significant experience in key patent litigation forums such as California, Delaware and the Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, as well as before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in inter partes review proceedings. Our prosecution and counseling team builds global IP portfolios, prepares opinions and performs product clearance. We also perform IP due diligence for investors and acquirers, ensuring informed decisions in complex transactions. We serve a diverse client base from Fortune 50 and multinational corporations to innovative start-ups across technology, consumer products, life sciences and other innovation-driven industries. With more than 140 IP attorneys worldwide, nearly half holding advanced technical degrees, Sheppard offers the depth and breadth to protect and grow our clients’ most valuable assets.