Hugham Chan
Primary Areas of Practice
Overview
Hugham Chan is an intellectual property litigator with extensive experience handling complex patent disputes across a wide range of industries, with a particular focus on life sciences and technology. He leverages a combination of private practice, government, and appellate insight in his work, allowing him to approach litigation strategically at every stage.
Hugham’s extensive litigation background, including both appellate and trial court clerkships, gives him an exceptional degree of hands-on knowledge of the litigation process, and the ability to consistently craft winning strategies. Hugham is particularly skilled at developing and delivering persuasive, focused arguments, which are the cornerstone of effective litigation. He excels at translating the facts and law of a case into persuasive arguments that are favorable to the client, regardless of the subject matter.
Prior to joining Rothwell Figg, Hugham served as counsel in the Intellectual Property Group of an international AmLaw 100 firm. His litigation practice involved the development of patent invalidity and noninfringement defenses, expert-driven technical analysis, high-stakes motion practice, reverse-payment antitrust claims, emergency proceedings, and examination and preparation of witnesses in court.
Before entering private practice, Hugham was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, where he defended the federal government in civil litigation involving the Patent Act, Administrative Procedure Act, Contract Disputes Act, and other federal statutes. In that role, he advised federal agencies on litigation strategy, argued dispositive motions, conducted witness examinations, and successfully briefed and argued civil appeals. His appellate work resulted in favorable, precedential decisions from both the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Earlier in his career, Hugham practiced intellectual property litigation at leading firms and clerked for both the Honorable Reggie B. Walton of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the Honorable Raymond T. Chen of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He has also taught legal research and writing at The George Washington University Law School.
Hugham received his B.S. in Biochemistry from Rice University and his J.D. from The George Washington University with high honors. In law school, he was the Online Articles Editor for the George Washington Law Review.
Experience
Hugham’s experience includes securing successful outcomes in the following cases:
Defended the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s calculation of “A” delay in a patent term adjustment matter. Lundbeck A/S v. USPTO, 2024 WL 3490289 (E.D. Va. July 19, 2024).*
Represented the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as trial counsel at a prosecution laches trial. Hyatt v. Vidal, 2024 WL 2208581 (D.D.C. May 16, 2024).*
Represented the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as appellate counsel in a patent term adjustment case concerning “C” delay. SawStop Holding LLC v. Vidal, 48 F.4th 1355 (Fed. Cir. 2022).*
Defended the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in a 35 U.S.C. § 145 action. Nomula v. Hirshfeld, 561 F. Supp. 3d 617 (E.D. Va. 2021).*
Represented the Social Security Administration as trial and appellate counsel in a putative class action regarding auxiliary benefits for early retirees. N.P. v. Kijakazi, 64 F.4th 577 (4th Cir. 2023).*
Defended the AbilityOne Commission, in an Administrative Procedure Act case, against allegations that the agency unlawfully failed to intervene in a dispute between a contractor and a subcontractor. PRIDE Indus. v. VersAbility Res., Inc., 670 F. Supp. 3d 323 (E.D. Va. 2023).*
*experience acquired prior to joining Rothwell Figg.
Community & Professional
Member, Asian American Chamber of Commerce
Member, Asian Pacific American Bar Association- DC
Assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, 2020–2024
Professorial Lecturer in Law, Legal Research and Writing, The George Washington University Law School, 2016–2017
Law Clerk, Honorable Raymond T. Chen, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 2016-2017
Law Clerk, Honorable Reggie B. Walton, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, 2014-2016
Board of Directors, Asian Pacific American Bar Association Educational Fund, 2015–2017
Practices
Education
J.D., The George Washington University Law School (with high honors)
B.S., Biochemistry, Rice University
Bar & Court Admissions
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
- New York
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit