As a member of Sutherland's Intellectual Property Practice Group and a seasoned litigator involved in complex civil matters, Ann Fort has protected the intellectual property rights of numerous clients in the United States and abroad. Her comprehensive experience encompasses patent infringement, licensing disputes, trade secret protection and unfair competition. In addition to trying cases in both federal and state courts, Ann works toward alternative dispute resolution, when feasible, and has represented clients in arbitrations and mediations.

With a focus on the technology industry, Ann's work has included cases involving medical information systems, interactive television program guides, computer network security and pharmaceuticals. She also represents insurers and financial services businesses in a wide range of disputes. Ann, who serves as chair of Sutherland's Electronic Discovery Committee, also advises businesses on electronic discovery preparedness and the management of electronically stored information.

An active leader in Sutherland's pro bono program, Ann recently achieved clemency for a pro bono client on death row. She represented him for more than 11 years before he was ultimately granted clemency just hours before execution in April 2008. She is a frequent speaker on the topic of pro bono legal service and about this experience, in particular.

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Bill Warren, a member of Sutherland's Intellectual Property Practice Group and chair of the firm's Biotechnology and Life Sciences Team, focuses his practice on patents and licensing for biotechnical, biomedical, pharmaceutical and biomechanical engineering inventions. For almost two decades, he has worked with clients ranging from nonprofit university and research centers to early-stage entrepreneurial companies to multi-national life sciences corporations.

A significant portion of Bill's practice includes patent prosecution, counseling clients on patent validity and infringement issues and the preparation of formal product clearance opinions. He also has successfully negotiated technology transfer licensing agreements on behalf of organizations of all sizes. Bill also protects trademarks and copyrights and, when necessary, litigates intellectual property issues.

Bill provides leadership to Sutherland's Biotechnology Patent Team, the majority of whose members also have graduate degrees in the life sciences, and he is Deputy Practice Group Leader for the firm's Intellectual Property Group. He also serves on the firm's Hiring Committee and Business Development Committee. Bill serves as a frequent speaker and author on developments in intellectual property law, particularly those affecting the life sciences industry.

Bill is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

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Lei Fang, a member of Sutherland's Intellectual Property Practice Group, practices intellectual property law with particular focus on the areas of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and life sciences. She has extensive scientific and technical experience in neuroscience and molecular pharmacology and toxicology. Lei's work relating to these fields has been featured in many peer-reviewed scientific publications.

Before joining Sutherland, Lei was a Senior Research Associate at a biotechnology/pharmaceutical company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, working on isolation, expression and characterization of disease-related genes. In addition, as a Graduate Research Associate at the University of Arizona, she investigated synthetic compound pharmacological properties and cloning of receptor proteins relating to pain research. Lei conducted post-doctoral research at Brigham & Women's Hospital of Harvard Medical School. She also finished medical school and became a qualified medical doctor in China before coming to the United States to pursue a Ph.D. in pharmacology.

Lei is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

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