Lael Andara is a member in Dickinson Wright's Silicon Valley office, where he helps technology and intellectual property clients protect and leverage their most valuable assets. He advises both domestic and international clients on all aspects of intellectual property and technology, from acquisition and portfolio management to litigation, licensing, and dispute resolution.
Patent litigation makes up most of Lael’s litigation experience, in part because he is a registered Patent Attorney (USPTO Reg. 50,019). He has also successfully defended and enforced his clients' patent rights in simultaneous actions before the USPTO, ITC and Court. Lael excels at resolving complex disputes with efficiency and creativity, using his skills in finding and presenting the key and hidden facts that shape the outcome. Whether he is negotiating with the other side or persuading a jury, he communicates clearly and effectively, helping his clients make or influence informed decisions.
Intellectual property and technology litigation includes copyright, trademark, false advertising, licensing, and trade secret matters. Lael works with clients to develop and implement strategies that align with their budget, technology, and business goals to maximize their competitive advantage. He also adds value by developing and implementing cost-saving strategies that align with his clients' big picture goals.
Privacy and security litigation and compliance is the most active segment of Lael’s practice. Lael is a certified privacy professional (IAPP CIPP/US) who combines his litigation skills with his knowledge of privacy and security laws and regulations to help clients protect their data and resolve disputes. He has represented clients in cases involving allegations of unauthorized data collection, website information collection, as well as consumer protection claims under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). He has also advised clients on how to develop and implement privacy policies, data encryption, consent forms, and employee training that align with their business goals and reduce their exposure to legal risks. He understands the value of proprietary data and trade secrets in litigation, and has experience in conducting data audits, reviewing generative artificial intelligence policies, serving as part of data breach response teams, and negotiating or litigating favorable outcomes for clients in California consumer privacy cases. Lael's practice reflects his commitment to providing practical and cost-effective solutions for clients facing complex and evolving privacy and security challenges.
Prior to joining Dickinson Wright, Lael was head of the eDiscovery practice group at a large, international law firm based in Menlo Park, California.
Education & Credentials
Education
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
J.D., Intellectual Property and Technology, 2001University of California, Santa Cruz
B.S., Psychology and Biology, 1999Bar Admission
Acknowledgements
- Northern California Super Lawyers
- Intellectual Property Litigation, 2022-2023
Prominent Assignments
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Prevailed on Summary Judgment against a $20 Million patent infringement claim relating to consumer products brought against one of his clients.
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$14.5m VERDICT. Lead counsel in 2021 federal trademark case was heard by an eight-member jury from November 1 - 17 in Judge Chen's court in San Francisco. After three days of deliberation, the jury unanimously found in favor of SinCo Technologies (SINCO), a Singapore-based supplier to tier-one OEM consumer electronic tech companies. The Jury awarded a total of $14.5 million of damages to SINCO Technologies. $11 million was awarded against defendant XINGKE for SINCO losses, and statutory damages of $2 million against defendant Tjoa, and $750K each against defendants Liew and Ng for willful trademark infringement of SINCO's U.S. trademarks.
Professional Involvement
- The San Francisco Bay Area Intellectual Property American Inn of Court, Member
- Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists, Member
Publications/Presentations
- Co-Host, "Generative AI: Look Before You Jump," DW FastTrack Podcast, Spotify and YouTube, July 2024
- Moderator, Best Practices for eDiscovery in Patent Litigation, NorCal eDiscovery & IG Retreat, July 2016
- Author, Security Considerations When Protecting Your Clients’ Data, LexisNexis Litigation Solutions, November 2015
- Speaker, Clear and Present Danger - Understanding Cyber Risks and the Benefits and Limitations of Cyber Insurance, Association of California Insurance Companies - General Counsel Seminar, July 2015
- Speaker, "Preserve or Perish" vs. "Destroy or Drown": Managing Electronically Stored Information (ESI), LegalTech San Francisco, July 2015
- Speaker, Where Have We Been – Where Are We Going?, ARMA International: Executive Conference on Information Governance, March 2015
- Speaker, Partners in Crime? Securing Data Trusted to Outside Counsel and Vendors, ARMA International: Executive Conference on Information Governance, March 2015
- Speaker, Laying the Foundation for Strategic Information Governance, ARMA International: Executive Conference on Information Governance, March 2015
- Speaker, Proving Your Trade Secrets Case: A Mock Preliminary Injunction Hearing, American Bar Association: National Symposium on Technology in Labor and Employment Law, March 2015 with NDCA Magistrate Laurel Beeler.
- Speaker, In-House eDiscovery – Is It Right For You?, ILTA/ARMA, October 2014
- Speaker, ESI Essentials: Honing Technical Skills to Become a Key E-Discovery Player, ACEDS/BarBri, October 2014
- Speaker, Exploiting E-Discovery Rules to Protect Your Firm and Gain the Upper Hand, ACEDS/BarBri, October 2014
- Speaker, Going Through the Motions: Staging a Thorough Rule 26 ‘Meet-and-Confer’, ACEDS/BarBri, April 2014
- Speaker, Protecting Sensitive Data from Prying Eyes and Imperfect Processes, ACEDS/BarBri, April 2014
- Speaker, Mock Hearing: The Great E-Discovery Cost-Shifting, ACEDS/BarBri, October 2013
- Speaker, Ignorance Is Risk: Impact of NSA Monitoring Technologies On Attorney-Client Communications, LexisNexis, August 2013
- Speaker, eDiscovery Goals: Considering Why Before How, Laguna Beach eDiscovery Retreat, July 2013
- Speaker, Traversing ‘The Triangle’ – Best Practices for Managing and Improving Law Firm-Client-Service Provider Relationships, ACEDS/BarBri, April 2013
- Speaker, Protecting vs Projecting - Best Practices for the Open Innovation Era, Presentation at the Computer History Museum in Silicon Valley, December 2012
- Author, eDiscovery Driving Litigation Costs, Daily Journal, October 2012
- Speaker, Penny Wise, Litigation Foolish: Understanding the Big Picture of Self Collection, Intermountain eDiscovery 2012, September 2012
- Speaker, A New Discovery: How Leveraging eDiscovery Tools Can Reduce the Time & Money Spent on a Lawsuit, Smart Business Northern California, July 2012
- Speaker, Real Life Analytics: Search Optimization for Collection/Preservation, Carmel Valley eDiscovery Retreat, July 2012
- Speaker, A Complete Guide to PMQ (a.k.a. PMK) Depositions, Continuing Education of the Bar, June 2012
- Speaker, eDiscovery: Leveraging I.T. in Litigation, Presentation at the Harvard Club in New York, May 2012
- Speaker, Can't We All Just Get Along: Reaching Consensus with Opposing Parties, Carmel Valley eDiscovery Retreat
- Speaker, The Mental Virtues of the eDiscovery Professional, ACEDS/BarBri