Sharon A. Hwang | McAndrews

Sharon A. Hwang

shwang@mcandrews-ip.com
312.775.8113


Sharon A. Hwang Shareholder 312.775.8113 Overview Practices & Industries Honors & Awards Presentations Professional & Community Involvement Sharon Hwang is a member of the Executive Committee and a Shareholder at McAndrews. She practices in all areas of intellectual property law with a particular emphasis on patent litigation. She helps her clients maximize the value of their intellectual property and protect their investments in research and development. She has extensive experience in a range of technologies, including medical devices, electronics, and cellular telephony. First, and foremost, Sharon is a hands-on courtroom advocate who has tried and litigated dozens of cases and briefed and argued numerous appeals. For more than thirty years, she has successfully represented parties in high-stakes patent litigation in federal district courts, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. Sharon has also successfully briefed and argued numerous inter partes reviews before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. In a high-profile patent case, Sharon and a team of McAndrews attorneys secured a $70 million lost-profits damage award that was recognized as one of The National Law Journal’s Top Verdicts that year. Sharon and a notably all-female team won an affirmance in the Federal Circuit on all liability and damages issues, then successfully petitioned the United States Supreme Court for a grant of certiorari on an issue pertaining to the Federal Circuit’s reversal of the district court’s punitive damages award against the defendant. The Supreme Court found in favor of Sharon’s client and clarified the law regarding the availability of enhanced damages in patent cases. On remand, the district court once again awarded treble damages and attorney fees, entering a $254 million judgment in favor of Sharon’s client, which the Federal Circuit affirmed. This is one of the largest enhanced damages awards in patent history. Sharon has been awarded numerous accolades, including being listed in the IAM Patent 1000 as one of the world’s leading patent professionals, Best Lawyers’ 2024 Lawyer of the Year for IP Litigation – Illinois, Crain’s Chicago Business 2023 Notable Litigators and Trial Attorneys, Top 100: Illinois Super Lawyers 2023, and Top 50: Women Illinois Super Lawyers 2021-present. She has also received the Career Achievement Award from the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers and both the Justice Laura C. Liu Lifetime Achievement Award and the Vanguard Award from the Chinese American Bar Association. EDUCATION Boston College Law School, J.D. University of Illinois, B.S., Electrical Engineering BAR ADMISSIONS/REGISTRATIONS Illinois United States Supreme Court U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan Trial Bar for the Northern District of Illinois U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Education Boston College Law School, J.D. University of Illinois, B.S., Electrical Engineering Practices IP Litigation Post-Grant Practice Bar Admissions/Registrations Illinois United States Supreme Court U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan Trial Bar for the Northern District of Illinois U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Industries Computer & Electronics Technology Industrial & Mechanical Medical Devices Consumer Products Life Sciences Honors & Awards Law Firm Partner Diversity Leadership Award, Asian American Bar Association (2024) 2024 Lawyer of the Year for Intellectual Property Litigation – Illinois, Best Lawyers (2024) Business Leaders of Color, Chicago United (2023) Top 100: Illinois Super Lawyers (2023) Notable Litigators and Trial Attorneys, Crain’s Chicago Business (2023) Best Lawyers: Litigation – Intellectual Property (2022 – present) Pro Bono Service Award, Greater Chicago Legal Clinic (2021) Top 50 Women: Illinois Super Lawyers (2021 – present) Notable Women in Law, Crain’s Chicago Business (2020) Influential Women in IP, World Intellectual Property Review (2020) Life Sciences Stars, LMG Life Sciences (2019-2020) Justice Laura C. Liu Lifetime Achievement Award, Chinese American Bar Association (2018) Career Achievement Award, Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (2018) IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals (2018 – present) Illinois Super Lawyers (2015 – present) IP Stars, Managing Intellectual Property (2015 – present) Mandarin Leader (2016) Vanguard Award, Chicago Bar Association (2016) Advocate for Diversity Award, Diversity Scholarship Foundation (2015) Sandra R. Otaka Leadership Award, Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago (2015) Female Power Brokers, Law360 (2014) Fellow, Leadership Greater Chicago (2011) Fellow, American Bar Foundation (2010-present) Presidential Leadership Award, Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago (2010) Outstanding Diversity Leader, Diversity Scholarship Foundation (2010) Next Generation of Diversity Leaders, Chicago Lawyer Magazine (2009) Best Lawyers Under 40, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (2007) Presentations “Building Your Brand as a Leader,” Chicago United (2024) “Demystifying Patent Infringement Cases for Judges and Lay Juries,” American Bar Association (2024) “Building, Managing and Leading an Agile and Successful IP Team in 2021,” IP Law & Management Institute (2021) “Recognizing & Addressing Implicit Bias in the Legal Profession,” Diversity Scholarship Foundation, Panelist (2021) “PTAB Practice Continues to Evolve as The Board’s 10^th Birthday Approaches,” Patent Law Institute 2021: Critical Issues & Best Practices, Practising Law Institute, Panelist (2021) “IPLAC 2020 Annual IP Symposium: An Afternoon with the Judges,” Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago, Moderator (2020) “Administrative Trial Advocacy in PTAB Patent Proceedings: Oral Argument, Briefing, Technical Audiences, Standards of Review,” Practising Law Institute, Advanced PTAB Trial Strategies 2020 “Strategies for Litigating Patents Concurrently in the District Court and PTAB,” Practising Law Institute, Patent Litigation 2019 “Patent Fundamentals: Patent Litigation Foundations,” Practising Law Institute, Patent Fundamentals Bootcamp 2019 “Strategies for Litigating Patents Concurrently in the District Court and PTAB,” Practising Law Institute, Patent Litigation 2018 “Patent Fundamentals: Patent Litigation Foundations,” Practising Law Institute, Patent Fundamentals Bootcamp 2018 “Many Changes Afoot-Continued Rise in Supreme Court Patent Decisions and Other Recent Case Developments and Their Impacts,” Practising Law Institute, Patent Litigation 2017 “An Examination of Matal v. Tam Through the Lens of Diversity in the Legal Profession,” Diversity Scholarship Foundation, Panelist (2017) “Path to Partnership,” APALSA, Northwestern University School of Law, Panelist (2017) “Recent Developments and Their Effects on Patent Litigation,” Practising Law Institute, Patent Litigation 2016 “Stryker Corp. v. Zimmer, Inc. and Halo Electronics, Inc. v. Pulse Electronics, Inc.,” Chicago-Kent Supreme Court IP Review, Panelist (2016) “Recent Supreme Court Decisions in Patent Cases – – How Helpful Have They Been?,” Practising Law Institute, Patent Litigation 2015 “The Changing Paths to Success in Large Law Firms,” Coalition of Women’s Initiatives/Chicago Committee Joint Program, Panelist (2014) “When the Jury Doesn’t Look Like You,” National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, 25th Annual Conference, Panelist (2013) “From Smart Phones to Surgical Navigation Systems: How Patents Protect Innovation,” University of Illinois Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Speaker (2013) “America Invents and Patent Litigation Trends,” Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago, Seventh Annual Federal Judicial Panel, Moderator (2011) “High Profile and Complex Litigation from the Outside In: Tips from Diverse Litigators Turned In-House Counsel,” National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, 23rd Annual Conference, Moderator (2011) “The Role of Diversity in Private Law Firms,” Northwestern University School of Law, Panelist (2011) “Women Partners and Women in Senior Corporate Management,” Diversity Scholarship Foundation, Panelist (2010) “The Road to Partnership,” Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law, Panelist (2010) “The Judicial Appointment and Election Process,” University of Chicago School of Law, Panelist (2010) “Emerging Legal Trends in Patent Law,” Minority Corporate Counsel Association, Panelist (2009) “Chief Patent Counsel’s View on Intellectual Property Trends for Business Lawyers,” Minority Corporate Counsel Association, Moderator (2007) Professional & Community Involvement Chair, Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms (2021-2023); Board Member (2014-2023) President, Greater Chicago Legal Clinic Board of Directors (2019-2022); Board Member (2010-present) President, Alumni Board for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana (2022-2024); Board Member (2016-present) Board Member, Chinese Mutual Aid Association (2019-2024) Executive Committee, McAndrews, Held & Malloy (2013-present) President, Asian American Bar Association Law Foundation (2015-2017); Board Member (2011-present) President, Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago (2009-2010); Executive Board (2006-2010) Economic Club of Chicago, Member (2023-present); Membership Committee (2024-present) Chicago History Museum, Board of Trustees (2024-present) Practices IP Litigation Post-Grant Practice Industries Computer & Electronics Technology Industrial & Mechanical Medical Devices Consumer Products Life Sciences Law Firm Partner Diversity Leadership Award, Asian American Bar Association (2024) 2024 Lawyer of the Year for Intellectual Property Litigation – Illinois, Best Lawyers (2024) Business Leaders of Color, Chicago United (2023) Top 100: Illinois Super Lawyers (2023) Notable Litigators and Trial Attorneys, Crain’s Chicago Business (2023) Best Lawyers: Litigation – Intellectual Property (2022 – present) Pro Bono Service Award, Greater Chicago Legal Clinic (2021) Top 50 Women: Illinois Super Lawyers (2021 – present) Notable Women in Law, Crain’s Chicago Business (2020) Influential Women in IP, World Intellectual Property Review (2020) Life Sciences Stars, LMG Life Sciences (2019-2020) Justice Laura C. Liu Lifetime Achievement Award, Chinese American Bar Association (2018) Career Achievement Award, Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (2018) IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals (2018 – present) Illinois Super Lawyers (2015 – present) IP Stars, Managing Intellectual Property (2015 – present) Mandarin Leader (2016) Vanguard Award, Chicago Bar Association (2016) Advocate for Diversity Award, Diversity Scholarship Foundation (2015) Sandra R. Otaka Leadership Award, Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago (2015) Female Power Brokers, Law360 (2014) Fellow, Leadership Greater Chicago (2011) Fellow, American Bar Foundation (2010-present) Presidential Leadership Award, Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago (2010) Outstanding Diversity Leader, Diversity Scholarship Foundation (2010) Next Generation of Diversity Leaders, Chicago Lawyer Magazine (2009) Best Lawyers Under 40, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (2007) “Building Your Brand as a Leader,” Chicago United (2024) “Demystifying Patent Infringement Cases for Judges and Lay Juries,” American Bar Association (2024) “Building, Managing and Leading an Agile and Successful IP Team in 2021,” IP Law & Management Institute (2021) “Recognizing & Addressing Implicit Bias in the Legal Profession,” Diversity Scholarship Foundation, Panelist (2021) “PTAB Practice Continues to Evolve as The Board’s 10^th Birthday Approaches,” Patent Law Institute 2021: Critical Issues & Best Practices, Practising Law Institute, Panelist (2021) “IPLAC 2020 Annual IP Symposium: An Afternoon with the Judges,” Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago, Moderator (2020) “Administrative Trial Advocacy in PTAB Patent Proceedings: Oral Argument, Briefing, Technical Audiences, Standards of Review,” Practising Law Institute, Advanced PTAB Trial Strategies 2020 “Strategies for Litigating Patents Concurrently in the District Court and PTAB,” Practising Law Institute, Patent Litigation 2019 “Patent Fundamentals: Patent Litigation Foundations,” Practising Law Institute, Patent Fundamentals Bootcamp 2019 “Strategies for Litigating Patents Concurrently in the District Court and PTAB,” Practising Law Institute, Patent Litigation 2018 “Patent Fundamentals: Patent Litigation Foundations,” Practising Law Institute, Patent Fundamentals Bootcamp 2018 “Many Changes Afoot-Continued Rise in Supreme Court Patent Decisions and Other Recent Case Developments and Their Impacts,” Practising Law Institute, Patent Litigation 2017 “An Examination of Matal v. Tam Through the Lens of Diversity in the Legal Profession,” Diversity Scholarship Foundation, Panelist (2017) “Path to Partnership,” APALSA, Northwestern University School of Law, Panelist (2017) “Recent Developments and Their Effects on Patent Litigation,” Practising Law Institute, Patent Litigation 2016 “Stryker Corp. v. Zimmer, Inc. and Halo Electronics, Inc. v. Pulse Electronics, Inc.,” Chicago-Kent Supreme Court IP Review, Panelist (2016) “Recent Supreme Court Decisions in Patent Cases – – How Helpful Have They Been?,” Practising Law Institute, Patent Litigation 2015 “The Changing Paths to Success in Large Law Firms,” Coalition of Women’s Initiatives/Chicago Committee Joint Program, Panelist (2014) “When the Jury Doesn’t Look Like You,” National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, 25th Annual Conference, Panelist (2013) “From Smart Phones to Surgical Navigation Systems: How Patents Protect Innovation,” University of Illinois Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Speaker (2013) “America Invents and Patent Litigation Trends,” Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago, Seventh Annual Federal Judicial Panel, Moderator (2011) “High Profile and Complex Litigation from the Outside In: Tips from Diverse Litigators Turned In-House Counsel,” National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, 23rd Annual Conference, Moderator (2011) “The Role of Diversity in Private Law Firms,” Northwestern University School of Law, Panelist (2011) “Women Partners and Women in Senior Corporate Management,” Diversity Scholarship Foundation, Panelist (2010) “The Road to Partnership,” Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law, Panelist (2010) “The Judicial Appointment and Election Process,” University of Chicago School of Law, Panelist (2010) “Emerging Legal Trends in Patent Law,” Minority Corporate Counsel Association, Panelist (2009) “Chief Patent Counsel’s View on Intellectual Property Trends for Business Lawyers,” Minority Corporate Counsel Association, Moderator (2007) Chair, Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms (2021-2023); Board Member (2014-2023) President, Greater Chicago Legal Clinic Board of Directors (2019-2022); Board Member (2010-present) President, Alumni Board for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana (2022-2024); Board Member (2016-present) Board Member, Chinese Mutual Aid Association (2019-2024) Executive Committee, McAndrews, Held & Malloy (2013-present) President, Asian American Bar Association Law Foundation (2015-2017); Board Member (2011-present) President, Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago (2009-2010); Executive Board (2006-2010) Economic Club of Chicago, Member (2023-present); Membership Committee (2024-present) Chicago History Museum, Board of Trustees (2024-present)