- Led and prevailed in the defense of a trade secret misappropriation case and a parallel patent infringement action on behalf of one of the largest hearing aid manufacturers in the world regarding Bluetooth and cloud-based telehealth hearing-aid technology. Secured a motion for summary judgment that confirmed the perils of seeking both trade secret and protection while simultaneously seeking patent and copyright protection and the importance of NDAs. Manchester v. Sivantos GMBH, No.: 2:17-CV-05309 (C.D. Cal.).
- First-chaired and secured a jury verdict of willful patent infringement and copyright infringement against a client’s competitor selling an infringing water scooter. Hydrodynamic Indus. Co. v. Green Max Distribs., Inc., No. 2:12-cv-05058 (C.D. Cal..).
- Defended in a series of patent infringement cases filed by Dali involving optical communications solutions for 5G networks and data centers involving distributed antenna systems (DAS). Prevailed on a motion to dismiss and a motion for summary judgment on noninfringement. The case was highlighted in the November 29, 2022 Docket Navigator report and in the Daily Journal as one of the “Top Defense Verdicts” in California.
- Led the defense of a patent infringement action directed to a personal flotation device. Obtained a favorable order on claim construction and on a motion to exclude a design patent expert, which led to a noninfringement judgment. Sport Dimension, Inc. v. Coleman Co., No. CV 14-00438 (C.D. Cal.).
- Defended Hublot and LVMH in a trademark lawsuit over use of the term “red gold” against SOLID 21, in a highly publicized case after a Ninth Circuit appeal. Settled on the eve of trial. SOLID 21, Inc. v. Hublot of America, Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy Inc., No.2:11-cv-00468 (C.D. Cal.).
- Represented Ulta Beauty in a patent infringement case related to mobile application technology that allows for push notifications to users. Push Data LLC v. Ulta Beauty, Inc., No. 2:22-cv-06586 (C.D. Cal.).
- Representing DIRECTV in a patent infringement action regarding 12 patents allegedly covering the Multimedia over Coax Alliance standard (MoCA), international standards for specifications for networking over coaxial cable.
- Representing MicroVention in a patent infringement case and a trade secret case against a competitor for its misappropriation of trade secrets and infringement of patents related to catheter and coil systems used to treat aneurysms. MicroVention, Inc. v. Balt, Inc. et al., No. 8:20-cv-02400-JLS-KES & 19-cv-01335 (C.D. Cal.).
- Representing a radiant floor heating system company in a false advertisement action against a competitor. Warmboard, Inc. v. Warm Brothers, Inc. et al., No. 5:23-cv-01378-PCP (N.D. Cal.).
- Defended in a series of patent infringement cases filed by Dali involving DAS and optical cable housing equipment that resulted in a settlement after an MSJ order in a parallel case.
Partner,
- Phone: +1 213 576 1026
- Other Phone: +1 650 838 2026
- Email: yuri.mikulka@alston.com
With over 25 years of litigation experience, Yuri defends clients in court actions, arbitrations, and pre-suit disputes nationwide, and has helped clients eliminate billions in potential damages and obtain significant jury verdicts and settlements.
- Represented PayPal in a patent infringement case regarding patents relating to caching or a method of data storage for faster retrieval. Implicit, LLC v. PayPal Holdings, Inc. et al., No. 6:22-cv-00686 (W.D. Tex).
- Represented Meta in a patent infringement case brought by Adnexus Incorporated related to the use of cookies in online advertising. Adnexus, Inc. v. Meta Platforms, Inc., No. 6:23-cv-00152 (W.D. Tex.).
- Represented Ulta Beauty in a patent infringement directed to online advertising and website functionality. Lexos Media IP, LLC v. Ulta Beauty, Inc., No. 2:22-cv-00292 (E.D. Tex.).
- Representing US Conec, Inc. in a multi-patent case against a competitor related to patents directed to optical connectors and adapters. Senko Advanced Components, Inc. v. US Conec, Ltd., No. 1:23-cv-00083 (D. Del.).
- Represented Instagram (Meta) in a patent infringement action related to the mobile app technology and improving user experience. Savannah Licensing, LLC v. Instagram, LLC, No. 1:22-cv-00139-CFC (D. Del.).
- Obtained a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction on behalf of clients that sought to prevent former officers and competitors from misappropriating trade secrets, falsely advertising, unfairly competing and diverting customers and employees. Audiology Distribution LLC et al v. Peter Stephens, et al., No. 8:20-cv-00499 (M.D. Fla.).
- Obtained dismissals of two securities class actions filed against client Pingtan, a global fishing company. The Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal order, dismissing the federal securities law claims against Pingtan and its officers related to statements regarding the status of the Company’s business and licenses. Zheng v. Pingtan Marine Enterprise Ltd. et al., No. 1:17-cv-03807-DLI-ST (E.D.N.Y.).
- Represented Honeywell in a Section 337 investigation involving patent infringement by a competitor of patents directed to barcode scanner technology that ultimately resulted in a settlement. Certain Barcode Scanners, Scan Engines, Products Containing the Same, and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-1165.
- First-chaired the argument before the Federal Circuit, which resulted in a seminal decision on claim construction of design patents and affirmed the district court’s order to exclude the opinions of a damages expert. Sport Dimension, Inc. v. Coleman Co., 820 F.3d 1316 (2016).
- Prevailed in an appeal before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the issue of what is proper service of summons.
Yuri Mikulka leads the firm’s Consumer Technology Patent Litigation Team. Yuri has practiced litigation nationwide for over 25 years and focuses on IP cases involving consumer technology and medical devices.
Yuri is recognized as one of the top intellectual property lawyers in California by the Daily Journal and among the 500 most influential leaders in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal. Yuri is also recognized by The Los Angeles Times as a “legal visionary” and by Intellectual Asset Management’s “IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists” for the past three years. Yuri led the defense of a global company in a multibillion-dollar exposure case with parallel trade secret and patent infringement cases selected as one of the “Top Defense Verdicts” by the Daily Journal.
Yuri is a widely recognized industry leader. She is former president of the Federal Bar Association, LA Chapter, and served on the ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, which evaluates all federal judicial nominees. Yuri serves on the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession and co-founded Carry As You Climb, a women’s leadership group for executives/ in-house lawyers. Yuri has served as visiting lecturer for UCI Samueli School of Engineering and the University of Chicago Law School.
Bar Admissions
- California
Education
- Pepperdine University (J.D.)
- University of California, Irvine (B.A.)
Memberships
- Federal Bar Association, Los Angeles Chapter, board member; past president
- American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, division director; former council member
- Carry As You Climb, co-founder
- American Bar Association, Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, Ninth Circuit Representative
- American Bar Association, Litigation Journal, former editorial board member
- American Bar Association, Committee on Corporate Counsel, former national co-chair
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Courts for the Central, Northern, Eastern, and Southern Districts of California
- U.S. District Court for Western District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- Pro hac vice to the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, Eastern and Northern District of Texas, and Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and district courts in Florida, Illinois, and Massachusetts, Southern District of Florida