WSGR logoWSGR logo
Michael B. Levin
Partner
Litigation
Palo Alto

D650-320-4929

Download vCard
Open PDF
  • Specialty Practice

    Mike's practice focuses on intellectual property litigation and counseling for tech companies with a focus on patent litigation as well as FRAND licensing disputes relating to standards essential patents.

  • Extensive Experience

    Since joining the firm in 1995, Mike has represented tech companies in hundreds of intellectual property disputes across the country, including in district courts and before the U.S. International Trade Commission, as well as a number of high profile international arbitrations.

  • Client Highlights

    Mike has represented well-known names like Bloomberg, Charles Schwab, GoDaddy, InterDigital, TD Ameritrade, TIBCO Software, and TiVo, among others.

  • Recognitions

    Mike has been listed in Intellectual Asset Management magazine's "IAM Patent 1000 - World's Leading Patent Practitioners" guides and has also been named to the list of "IP Stars" by Managing Intellectual Property.

Michael Levin is a partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he specializes in intellectual property litigation and counseling for technology companies with a focus on patent litigation, especially in the areas of software, networking, cellular and wireless telecommunications, graphical user interfaces, and electronic trading, as well as FRAND licensing disputes relating to standards essential patents. Since joining the firm in 1995, Mike has represented technology companies in hundreds of intellectual property disputes, including disputes in U.S. district courts, before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), and multi-jurisdictional international disputes, including matters relating to the licensing of standards essential patents (SEPs). In addition, Mike has successfully handled a number of U.S. and international arbitrations in the AAA, ICDR, and ICC, helping his clients collect more than $1 billion in royalties.

Michael has been recognized in Northern California Super Lawyers since 2005. He has also been recognized since 2015 as an “IP Star” by Managing Intellectual Property. In addition, Michael has been recognized in Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) magazine's IAM Patent 1000 – World's Leading Patent Practitioners guide, in which he has been praised for his IP litigation expertise, including his ability to bridge the gap between the contentious and non-contentious practices by specializing in licensing disputes, with commentators noting that Michael has “superb knowledge of portfolio licensing issues and is easy to work with,” and “has an encyclopaedic knowledge of standard-essential patents.” 

Michael has served on the firm’s Member Compensation Committee, among other committees. Prior to joining Wilson Sonsini, Michael served as a law clerk to Judge Ronald M. Whyte of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. While in law school, he completed two externships—one with Justice Edward Panelli of the Supreme Court of California, and one with Judges Harry Pregerson and Stephen Reinhardt of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Experience

Michael Levin is a partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he specializes in intellectual property litigation and counseling for technology companies with a focus on patent litigation, especially in the areas of software, networking, cellular and wireless telecommunications, graphical user interfaces, and electronic trading, as well as FRAND licensing disputes relating to standards essential patents. Since joining the firm in 1995, Mike has represented technology companies in hundreds of intellectual property disputes, including disputes in U.S. district courts, before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), and multi-jurisdictional international disputes, including matters relating to the licensing of standards essential patents (SEPs). In addition, Mike has successfully handled a number of U.S. and international arbitrations in the AAA, ICDR, and ICC, helping his clients collect more than $1 billion in royalties.

Michael has been recognized in Northern California Super Lawyers since 2005. He has also been recognized since 2015 as an “IP Star” by Managing Intellectual Property. In addition, Michael has been recognized in Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) magazine's IAM Patent 1000 – World's Leading Patent Practitioners guide, in which he has been praised for his IP litigation expertise, including his ability to bridge the gap between the contentious and non-contentious practices by specializing in licensing disputes, with commentators noting that Michael has “superb knowledge of portfolio licensing issues and is easy to work with,” and “has an encyclopaedic knowledge of standard-essential patents.” 

Michael has served on the firm’s Member Compensation Committee, among other committees. Prior to joining Wilson Sonsini, Michael served as a law clerk to Judge Ronald M. Whyte of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. While in law school, he completed two externships—one with Justice Edward Panelli of the Supreme Court of California, and one with Judges Harry Pregerson and Stephen Reinhardt of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Focus Areas
Recent Insights
Client Highlights
InterDigital to Acquire Technicolor's Patent Licensing Business
On March 1, 2018, InterDigital, a mobile technology research and development company, announced that it has made a binding offer to purchase the patent licensing business of Technicolor, a worldwide technology leader in the media and entertainment sector, for $150 million in cash plus future contingent consideration.
Learn More
Client Highlights
Bloomberg and Charles Schwab Obtain Summary Judgment of Noninfringement
On January 19, 2017, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati obtained a summary judgment of noninfringement on behalf of clients Bloomberg and Charles Schwab in a case brought by Quest Licensing after Judge Gregory M. Sleet of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware heard oral argument on the motion sua sponte at a pretrial conference on December 19, 2016. According to reports, Judge Sleet has only allowed five summary judgment motions to be filed over the past 15 years, and has granted none of them on the issue of infringement.
Learn More
WSGR logo
Copyright © 2024 Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. All Rights Reserved.