Benu Mehra Wells

Benu Mehra Wells represents clients in complex patent and general commercial litigation in federal courts across the country. In patent litigation, Benu represents both patent owners seeking to enforce their rights and companies defending against allegations of patent infringement across various technology sectors, including the electrical, software, computer security, satellite radio, consumer product and pharmaceutical industries. She also has represented both patentees and generic pharmaceutical manufacturers in litigations under the Hatch-Waxman Act.

Benu has firsthand experience in all aspects of litigation, including trial witness examination, oral argument, taking and defending fact and expert depositions in the U.S. and abroad, preparation of dispositive motions, patent claim construction, case management, and discovery. Her litigation work includes actions in the District of New Jersey, the District of Delaware, the Eastern District of Texas, the Eastern District of Virginia, the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, the Northern District of California, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Benu has also handled disputes before the Food and Drug Administration and foreign pharmaceutical authorities.

Most recently, Benu was a member of a trial team that obtained an award of nearly $40 million for a computer and network security company in a patent infringement action in the Northern District of California. Following a two-week trial, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of infringement and validity of five patents. Her other notable work includes the successful representation, as a member of the trial team, of a pharmaceutical company in a false advertising action in the District of New Jersey. Following a 39-day bench trial with dozens of fact and expert witnesses, the court found false advertising and awarded the client significant monetary and injunctive relief. Benu has also obtained various successful outcomes for defendants, including dismissal of a false advertising claim for lack of personal jurisdiction over an international pharmaceutical manufacturer, dismissal of a satellite radio provider for improper joinder in a patent infringement action, and denial of a motion for a temporary restraining order in a patent infringement action against a large pharmaceutical company.

In addition to her work on behalf of the firm’s clients, Benu also has dedicated significant time to pro bono work, including obtaining a divorce for a woman in an abusive marriage and obtaining asylum for a severely persecuted female Afghani civil rights advocate. Benu has served on the firm’s Associates Committee and Women’s Initiative Committee, and she currently serves on the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion. Benu is also a member of the firm’s Attorneys of Color Affinity Group.

Experience

Obtained jury verdict of infringement and validity of eight patents and an award of $15 million for Nasdaq-listed cybersecurity client Finjan Inc. in a lawsuit against Sophos.
Obtained jury verdict of infringement and validity of five patents and an award of nearly $40 million for Nasdaq-listed cybersecurity client Finjan Inc., in a lawsuit against Blue Coat Systems Inc.
Represented a pharmaceutical industry plaintiff in false advertising litigation involving a 39-day bench trial with dozens of fact and expert witnesses, resulting in a finding of false advertising and an award of significant monetary and injunctive relief to the client.

Obtained the dismissal of a false advertising claim for lack of personal jurisdiction over an international pharmaceutical manufacturer.
Obtained the dismissal of a patent infringement action against a satellite radio company involving audio content that can be downloaded and played according to a playlist.
Represented both patentees and generic manufacturers in multiple litigations under the Hatch-Waxman Act, including defeating a motion for a temporary restraining order and obtaining sanctions for discovery misconduct.
Successfully represented a major automobile company in a patent infringement action involving vehicle navigation systems.
Successfully defended a satellite radio company in a patent infringement action relating to interoperable satellite radio receivers.
Successfully defended a major semiconductor chip manufacturer against charges of patent infringement.
Represented a French software company in a complex copyright and trademark infringement case.
Defended a pharmaceutical industry defendant against charges of patent infringement under the Hatch-Waxman Act by asserting claims of inequitable conduct in a case that reached favorable settlement.

Credentials

Education

J.D., University of Michigan Law School, 2002
- Associate Editor, Michigan Telecommunications and Technology Law Review
B.S., Mathematics, summa cum laude, Youngstown State University, 1999
B.A., Political Science, summa cum laude, Youngstown State University, 1999

Bar Admissions

New Jersey, 2022
New York, 2003

Court Admissions

U.S.C.A., Federal Circuit
U.S.D.C., Eastern District of New York
U.S.D.C., Southern District of New York
U.S.D.C., District of New Jersey

Professional Affiliations

New York Intellectual Property Law Association
New York State Bar Association