Jonathan A. Patchen

Prior to joining Willkie in 2021, Jonathan was a partner at Baker Botts LLP, where he served as Co-Chair of the Tech Litigation Practice Group. Following graduation from law school, Jonathan was a judicial clerk for the Hon. Ronald Gould of the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

• Daily Journal, Top Trade Secrets Lawyers, 2023
• Legal 500 U.S. in the area of Dispute Resolution: General Commercial Disputes, 2023
• Benchmark Litigation, Litigation Star - Commercial (National, California), 2024
• Super Lawyers
  
  • Northern California Super Lawyer, 2013-2024
  • Northern California, Rising Star, 2012
    
     

• Northern District of California Lawyer Representative
• Board of Governors for the Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL), Northern California Chapter; Membership Co-Chair
• Advisory Board Member, Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society
• Bar Association of San Francisco - Judiciary Committee, Chair (2017)
• Bar Association of San Francisco - Executive Committee Litigation Section, Chair (2014)
• Executive Committee of the California Lawyers' Association Litigation Section
• Executive Committee of the Northern California Chapter of the Harvard Law School Association
• • California Civility Task Force

• Co-author: “Welcome Published Guidance on Trade Secrets and Employee Mobility: Hooked Media Group v. Apple,” The Recorder (November 6, 2020)
• Speaker: “Trade Secrets & Employee Mobility,” Association of Corporate Counsel (August 2020)
• Speaker: “Trade Secrets & Employee Mobility,” TechGC Virtual Dinner (May 13, 2020)
• Co-author: “Trade Secret Exception Redux: What the Court in 'Techno Lite' Got Wrong,” The Recorder (April 13, 2020)
• Co-author: “When Accommodating Becomes Establishing,” Daily Journal (May 22, 2019)
• Author: “What You Need To Know About The Defend Trade Secrets Act Of 2016,” Above the Law (June 9, 2016)

• Schwartz v. Bai Brands LLC, No. 2:19-cv-06249-FMO-RAO (C.D. Cal.). Lead counsel defending drink manufacturer from putative class action.
• Google, LLC. v. Lior Ron et al., JAMS Arbitration. Represented co-founder of Ottomotto in arbitration claim brought by Google; first-chaired client's defense at two-week, three-arbitrator hearing.
• SunPower v. Standard Industries, et al., No. 19-CV-349042 (Santa Clara Sup. Ct.). Represented former SunPower executive in litigation asserting, inter alia, trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, and breach of the duty of loyalty.
• Howard v. Goldbloom, et al., No. CGC-17-561624 (San Francisco Sup. Ct.). Represented three venture capital firms in defense of lawsuit alleging breach of fiduciary duty and related claims arising from a financing and subsequent acquisition.
• Incyte Corp. v. Flexus Biosciences, Inc., et al., No. N15C-09-055 (Del. Super. Ct.). Defended the founders of Flexus Biosciences against a trade secret misappropriation claim in which the plaintiff claimed up to $2.5 billion in damages; achieved defense verdict following two-week trial in October 2018.
• Wang v. Palo Alto Networks, Inc., et al., No. 12-5579-WHA (N.D. Cal.). Represented co-founder of Palo Alto Networks in defense of trade secret misappropriation and patent infringement claims; argued and won summary judgment on trade secret misappropriation claim. Successfully defended on appeal the overall trial court result. 686 Fed. App’x 890 (2017).
• E-Smart Technologies, Inc. v. Drizin, et al., No. 06-5528-MHP (N.D. Cal.). Appointed by the court to represent the Northern District of California in civil contempt proceedings; first-chair trial counsel for bench trial that resulted in the finding of civil contempt (2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 53129).
• McDonald v. Krook, et al., No. 108-CV-126702 (Santa Clara Super. Ct.). Defended pre-merger and post-merger company, CEO and CFO against breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and constructive fraud claims; prevailed on summary judgment.