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Margaret Ukwu

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Margaret Ukwu is an associate in the Litigation Department and a member of the Intellectual Property and Mass Torts & Product Liability Groups. She focuses her practice on complex patent litigation involving a broad range of technologies, including pharmaceutical and medical devices, electrical arts pertaining to mechanical systems, computer architecture, internet applications, mobile operating systems, wireless communications and user interfaces. She also advises clients on all aspects of patentability and provides patent counseling regarding invalidity, non-infringement and freedom to operate assessments.

Margaret also specializes in all aspects of pre-trial work and trial preparation, including drafting motions in limine, jury instructions, working on demonstrative and exhibit lists, preparing witnesses for trial and drafting opening and closing statements.

While in law school, Margaret interned for the Honorable Sam Rugege at the Supreme Court of Rwanda. Prior to practicing law, she worked as a control systems engineer at a large multinational company.

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The 2016 enactment of the Defend Trade Secrets Act (“DTSA”) has led to an increase in trade secret litigation. The DTSA codified into federal law the right of an owner of a trade secret to sue in federal court when its trade secret had been misappropriated. Prior to the DTSA, with the absence of diversity jurisdiction, aggrieved trade secret owners had to pursue legal remedies under state law, typically under the Uniform Trade Secret Act (“UTSA”), which has been enacted by 47 states. Notably, the DTSA does not preempt state trade secret laws, therefore, aggrieved trade secret holders may seek civil remedies for alleged misappropriation under either state or federal law or both. Both the DTSA and the UTSA requires the trade secret owner to take reasonable measures to keep the trade secret information secret. The term reasonable can have many meanings in different contexts depending on a multitude of factors. As such, what may be considered reasonable efforts under one set of facts may be deemed deficient under another set of facts.

In order to prepare and prosecute utility, design, and plant patent matters in front of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO” or “Office”), the USPTO requires practitioners to demonstrate possession of the legal, scientific, and technical qualifications necessary to render valuable service to clients. See 37 CFR 11.7(a)(2)(ii).