Patent litigation. Stefan’s practice primarily focuses on plaintiff-side patent litigation. Stefan has represented innovators against infringers in Delaware, Texas, California, and the International Trade Commission, and has deep experience developing winning infringement theories, claim construction positions, and trial strategies.

Trade secrets litigation. Stefan has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of trade secrets disputes in federal and state courts throughout the country, and has successfully obtained as well as opposed temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions arising from alleged misappropriation of trade secrets.

Copyright and trademark litigation. Stefan has significant experience obtaining temporary restraining orders, as well as preliminary and permanent injunctions on behalf of brand owners and designers whose copyright and trade dress rights are being infringed by online retailers. Stefan recently obtained injunctions in the Central District of California against hundreds of such online sellers operating on DHGate.com and Alibaba.com. Stefan has also represented defendants in trademark cases involving allegations of indirect infringement and counterfeiting, and in oppositions before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Section 1983 litigation. In addition to his work in IP litigation, Stefan has represented plaintiffs in cases arising under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 from violations of his clients’ constitutional rights. In 2017, Stefan represented a plaintiff in an excessive force case under the 8th Amendment in the Northern District of California, and obtained a rare jury verdict awarding compensatory and punitive damages. In 2021, after defeating a motion for summary judgment asserting qualified immunity, Stefan negotiated a substantial settlement paid by the state of Washington to plaintiffs who had been exposed to unreasonable amounts of second-hand smoke while in detention, in violation of their 14th Amendment rights. Although far afield from his IP litigation practice, these results highlight Stefan’s commitment to taking on and prevailing in difficult litigations.

Stefan also routinely counsels clients on pre-litigation strategies and dispute resolution, and is a frequent writer, commentator, and presenter on developments in IP law. Stefan has also guest lectured on the topic of trade secrets litigation at the University of Washington School of Law.

Before joining Folio, Stefan was a partner at Dorsey & Whitney in Seattle. Stefan began his career at Morrison & Foerster in Palo Alto, and has also practiced at Fenwick & West.

ADMISSIONS

• Member of the Washington, California, and New York state bars
• Admitted to the Western District of Texas
• Admitted to the Eastern District of Texas
• Admitted to the Eastern District of Washington
• Admitted to the Western District of Washington
• Admitted to the Eastern District of New York
• Admitted to the Southern District of New York
• Admitted to the Northern District of California
• Admitted to the Central District of California
• Admitted to the Southern District of California
• Admitted to the District of Colorado
• Admitted to the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

EDUCATION

• BA – McGill University
• BCL-LL.B – McGill University