Nicole Pobre joined Ropes & Gray in 2021 as an associate in the intellectual property litigation group. Nicole’s IP litigation practice spans a diverse range of fields across patent, copyright, trade secret, and trademark matters, including medical devices, wireless technology and telecommunications, consumer electronics, alcoholic beverages, and food. She has also represented clients in contract disputes and advised on IP licensing. Nicole has experience litigating at a variety of federal district courts, as well as before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

During law school, Nicole served as the managing editor of the Harvard Journal of Law & Technology. She also interned at the National Security Division’s Office of Law & Policy at the U.S. Department of Justice. Prior to law school, Nicole worked as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, examining patent applications for medical devices and thermal therapies.

Experience

  • Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac, Institut National des Appellations d'Origine v. Cologne & Cognac Entertainment (CAFC): Representing BNIC and INAO in appeal at U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit regarding the COGNAC certification mark of regional origin resulting from opposition proceeding at TTAB.
  • XpandOrtho/Exactech v. Zimmer (S.D. Cal., MDFL, PTAB): Represented Exactech and XpandOrtho in a multi-district litigation involving patent, copyright, and trade secret issues regarding orthopedic surgery tools, including filing multiple IPRs successfully instituted at the PTAB, reaching a highly favorable settlement.
  • Collision Communications, Inc. v. Nokia Corp. et al.; Collision Communications, Inc. v. Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson et al. (EDTX): Represented Collision Communications in two cases in the Eastern District of Texas involving infringement of multiple 3G and 4G/LTE patents by Nokia's and Ericsson's cellular infrastructure products and services.
  • Collision Communications, Inc. v. Nokia Solutions and Networks OY (DNH): Representing Collision in breach of contract case against Nokia in the District of New Hampshire.
  • Carbyne Biometrics v. A Major Multinational Consumer Electronics Company (WDTX): Defending a major multinational consumer electronics company in a six-patent suit concerning authentication and fraud reduction.
  • Represented various clients in preparing and filing IPR petitions before the PTAB.
  • Represented client on enforcement of its food-product certification mark and methods for improving the strength of that mark in the United States.
  • Represented a global technology company in an opposition appeal before the European Patent Office Board of Appeals.
  • Advised The Vistria Group on intellectual property and licensing matters relating to a series of healthcare-related acquisitions, including Help at Home.
  • Advised a private equity fund on intellectual property and licensing matters relating to acquisition of a pharmaceutical company.

Areas of Practice