- Representing a Fortune 500 wireless technology company in patent infringement actions involving cellular and digital network solutions in multiple federal district courts including the Western District of Texas and Northern District of California.
- Received the honor of one the Top Defense Verdicts in 2019 by the Daily Journal in a case involving Bluetooth and cloud-based telehealth hearing-aid technology against one of the largest hearing-aid manufacturers in the world. Yuri led the defense of the trade secret case and the patent infringement declaratory judgment action and prevailed in a motion for summary judgment that confirmed the perils of seeking trade secret protection while simultaneously seeking patent and copyright protection and the importance of carefully crafted NDAs.
- Represented and obtained a favorable outcome for a Fortune 500 company before the International Trade Commission in a Section 337 investigation involving the allegation of patent infringement by a competitor related to barcode scanner technology.
- Obtained a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction on behalf of clients in a federal action that prevented competitors from misappropriating trade secrets, falsely advertising, unfairly competing and diverting customers and employees, and destroying evidence.
- Secured a jury verdict of willful patent infringement and copyright infringement against a client’s competitor selling an infringing sea scooter.
- Representing a global coffee company in patent infringement cases in the Central District of California.
- Argued before the Federal Circuit, which resulted in a seminal decision on claim construction of design patents.
- Obtained a favorable claim construction and a subsequent noninfringement judgment in a case asserting against a client infringement of a patent directed to a personal flotation device.
- Obtained an order to strike the opinions of a design patent expert, affirmed by the Federal Circuit.
- Obtained full dismissal of a company sued by a competitor for allegedly infringing a patent directed to wearable technology.
Partner,
- Phone: +1 213 576 1026
- 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.
- Obtained full dismissal of a patent infringement action involving mobile app technology on behalf of a publicly traded retailer.
- Obtained full dismissal of a company sued for allegedly infringing a transportation technology patent.
- Prevailed in an appeal before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal on the issue of proper service of summons.
- Obtained full dismissal, without payment, of an automotive parts company in a product liability action.
- Defended multiple automobile manufacturers in patent infringement cases involving tire pressure monitoring systems and accelerometers used in airbag restraint systems.
- Represented multinational companies to customize and implement patent and trademark enforcement programs to combat infringement, counterfeiting, and gray market goods, and to recover damages from infringers.
- Obtained a significant monetary settlement on behalf of a client against a Fortune 100 company accused of infringement within weeks of filing the suit and a temporary restraining order.
- Represented a global manufacturer in a patent infringement suit against a competitor related to patented technology in automotive parts, resulting in a favorable settlement.
- Represented a leading sports apparel and equipment company in a trademark infringement case.
- Prevailed in motions to dismiss a securities class action filed against a client based in the People’s Republic of China that was accused of making material misrepresentations in its securities filings.
- Obtained full dismissal, sanctions, attorneys’ fees, and a monetary settlement from a plaintiff who sued a Fortune 500 company client for unfair business practices and fraud.
Yuri Mikulka leads the firm’s Consumer Technology Patent Litigation Team. Yuri focuses on nationwide litigation involving patent and trademark infringement, trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition, and complex business disputes.
Yuri is recognized as one of the top intellectual property lawyers in California by the Daily Journal and for the past four years, honored as one 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 IAM Strategy 300 as one of the World’s Leading IP Strategists and Global Leaders.
Yuri serves as the president of the Federal Bar Association (LA Chapter), the first female AAPI lawyer in that position, and as the national division director of the ABA Section of Litigation. She also serves as the Ninth Circuit representative of the ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary that conducts formal evaluation of federal judicial nominees in advance of the U.S. Senate confirmation hearings. Yuri is the co-founder of Carry As You Climb, a women leadership group for corporate in-house lawyers and leaders.
Bar Admissions
- California
Education
- Pepperdine University (J.D.)
- University of California, Irvine (B.A.)
Memberships
- Federal Bar Association, Los Angeles Chapter, president
- American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, division director
- Carry As You Climb, co-founder
- American Bar Association, Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, Ninth Circuit Representative
- American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, council member
- American Bar Association, Litigation Journal, editorial board
- American Bar Association, Committee on Corporate Counsel, national co-chair
- American Law Institute (ALI-ABA), Advisory Committee
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