Bassett_David

David B. Bassett

Bassett_David

David B. Bassett

Partner

New York + 1 212 230 8858 Boston

David Bassett is a nationally recognized intellectual property litigation lawyer. He is based in the firm’s New York office and is the former chair of the firm’s Associates Committee and of the firm’s Intellectual Property Litigation Practice. Mr. Bassett's practice concentrates on intellectual property litigation, particularly on biotechnology, pharmaceutical and Hatch-Waxman patent disputes. He also represents clients in a wide variety of other business disputes, including breach of contract, Lanham Act and Internet-related claims. His intellectual property litigation clients have included Gilead Sciences, Shionogi, Foundation Medicine, Precision BioScience, Actavis, Braintree Laboratories, Forest (Allergan) and many others. His practice has covered all facets of litigation, including discovery, settlement, alternative dispute resolution, IPRs, trials and appeals. Mr. Bassett has been lead trial lawyer in more than a dozen patent trials (both bench and jury), and has appeared before the Courts of Appeals for the First and Federal Circuits. He has been recognized as a leading lawyer in Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, LMG Life Sciences and IAM Patent 1000.

Community Involvement

  • Former Chair, Masconomet Regional School Committee

Professional Activities

  • Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association, Intellectual Property Law Section
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Massachusetts Bar Association

  • WilmerHale Team Wins Landmark Patent Trial for Gilead Sciences Against US Government

    A WilmerHale legal team co-led by partners Ronald Machen and David Bassett won a landmark victory for Gilead Sciences on May 9, 2023 when a federal jury sided with the pharmaceutical company against the US government in a precedent-setting patent-infringement trial. 

    May 15, 2023
    Read More

Experience

  • During the last several years, Mr. Bassett has handled cases for numerous clients, including:

    • A successful jury trial for a biotechnology company that developed an innovative genome editing method
    • Representing a large pharmaceutical company dealing with multiple generic challenges to its flagship HIV treatment patents
    • Counseling the leading company in comprehensive genomic profiling of cancer-related genes
    • Handling multiple inter partes reviews for one of the country's largest plastics company
    • Representing a major biotechnology company in one of the largest biotech patent litigations in the country
    • Representing a leading biopharmaceutical company in a series of patent and patent licensing litigations
    • Representing an integrated business consulting service company in litigation to enforce a noncompete agreement with a former employee

Recognition

  • Recognized in the 2024 edition of Who's Who Legal: Thought Leaders - IP 
  • Named a Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer – independently rated and selected by clients.
  • Named one of the Best Lawyers in America in the 2020–2025 editions for his intellectual property litigation practice, and in 2021–2025 for his patent litigation practice.
  • Highly recommended as a leading lawyer in the IP industry in the 2017 edition of Patents Expert Guide.
  • Regularly recognized by Chambers USA Guide in New York for patent intellectual property law.
  • Named a "Life Sciences Star" in the 2012–2023 editions of LMG Life Sciences.
  • Named a 2014–2015 and 2019–2024 leading practitioner by IAM Patent 1000: The World's Leading Patent Practitioners.
  • Selected as a "New York Super Lawyer" from 2009–2021 and 2023 for his intellectual property litigation practice.
  • Highly recommended in the PLC Cross-border IP in Business Transactions Handbook 2008/09.
  • Recognized as one of the world's leading life sciences - patent litigation lawyers in the 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2016 editions of Who's Who Legal: The International Who's Who of Life Sciences Lawyers
  • Selected as a "patent law expert" in Legal Media Group's Guide to the World's Leading Patent Law Practitioners 2007.
  • Recommended in the 2006–2007 edition of the PLC IP & IT Cross-Border Handbook.
  • Named a "New England Super Lawyer" (formerly "Massachusetts Super Lawyer") in intellectual property litigation in the 2004–2007 issues of Boston Magazine.
  • Named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America list.

Insights & News

View all of David's insights & news

Credentials

  • Education

    • JD, Harvard Law School, 1987

      cum laude Editor, Harvard Law Review; Finalist, Ames Moot Court Competition

    • BA, Indiana University, 1984

      with Honors and Distinction National Merit Scholarship, Phi Beta Kappa

  • Admissions

    • New York

    • Massachusetts

    • Indiana

  • Clerkships

    • The Hon. Sarah Evans Barker, US District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, 1987 - 1989

Credentials

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