Krista Vink Venegas, Ph.D.

Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Krista was a partner in the intellectual property practice of another global law firm, where she was a member of its life sciences steering committee, pro bono committee, diversity committee, and recruiting committee.

Previously, Krista conducted research at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology, using a multidisciplinary approach (molecular biology, cellular biology, physiology, anatomy, and behavior) to study gene expression and regulation of neuropeptides by hormones in the brain.

• Conducts US district court patent infringement litigation in a variety of jurisdictions relating to medical devices such as orthopedic implants, stents, resorbable cosmetic implants, ultrasound, neuronavigation and proton beam therapy systems
• Biomet, Inc. v. Bonutti Skeletal, Inc., N.D. Ind., 13-cv-176-JVB-CAN, a patent infringement action involving spine, hip, and knee implants, in which the defendant was accused of infringing 20 patents to devices and methods of using the same (case pending; successful opposition of motion to transfer action to patent owner's home forum; technical lead on spine and hip allegations)
• Conducts Hatch-Waxman pharmaceutical litigation in key jurisdictions principally for oral dosage and topical pharmaceutical products
• Pfizer and UCB Pharma v. Sandoz, Inc., et al., Dist. Del., 13-cv-1111, a patent infringement action related to prodrug compounds used to treat urinary incontinence, including non-infringement and invalidity defenses (lead counsel for Sandoz; case pending)
• Pfizer, Inc., et al. v. Sandoz, Inc., et al., Dist. Del., 12-cv-808, a patent infringement action related to modified salt forms of compounds used to treat depression, including non-infringement and invalidity defenses (case settled in pretrial phase)
• Galderma v. Tolmar, Inc., et al., Dist. Del., 10-cv-045, successfully defended a five patent case relating to the treatment of acne using increased dosages of adapalene in topical formulations (patents found invalid for obviousness)
• Galderma v. Tolmar, Inc., N.D. Texas, 09-cv-400, two patent cases relating to treatment for rosacea using metronidazole in betacyclodextran formulations, including non-infringement and invalidity defenses, as well as antitrust counterclaims (case settled in pretrial phase)
• Conducts due diligence analysis of intellectual property assets in corporate life science acquisitions, including evaluation of assets in the midst of litigation and post-grant challenges

Pro Bono Representations

• Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Inc. (Settlement Assistance Program); successfully settled several inmate pro se civil rights cases with the Illinois State's Attorney and Attorney General's Offices following mediation facilitated by local magistrate judges
• Family Defense Center, State of Illinois v. Corona and Morales (Lake County Circuit, Case No. 13 MR 881); successfully appealed administrative law judge's determination and further denial to expunge a medical neglect indication on behalf of a non-English speaking family, stemming from their young son's ER visit