Biography
- Joseph Yang is an IP transactions partner at PatentEsque Law Group, LLP where he represents U.S, Japanese and European clients in:
technology partnerships & other transactions involving complex IP issues and/or deals between industries that historically didn’t interact with each other; and - patent-driven licensing, cross-licensing, patent pools (& other SEP matters) and sales.
Joe is active as an expert witness for high stakes tech & patent licensing disputes.
Over the past 30+ years, Joe has structured, drafted and/or negotiated many hundreds of licensing and partnership agreements for clients in the Al, automotive, data, electronics, energy, healthcare, internet, manufacturing, robotics, semiconductor and software industries.
Joe also has significant experience in mergers and acquisitions, creating and managing corporate patent portfolios, and IP litigation/settlements. Joe is also an educator, including being:
- a Lecturer in Law at Stanford Law Schoo/ where teaches the “Technology and Patent Licensing” course (since 2014);
- a chair of the nationwide “Advanced Licensing,” “Understanding the IP License” and “Modern Patent Licensing” courses at the Practising Law Institute (since 2003); and
- a frequent U.S. and international speaker at the Licensing Executives Society, AIPPI Japan and other organizations (since the 1990s).
Earlier, Joe was VP & General Counsel of Cryptography Research, Inc. (CRI), whose licensees make 10+ billion devices/year in the smart card/phone, semiconductor, pay TV, printer & other fields. He also developed, enforced & defended CRI’s patent portfolio, and played a key role in CRI’s successful sale in M&A deals valued at $400+ million.
Before that, Joe co-founded and later led the “IP Strategy & Transactions” practice in the Silicon Valley office of Skadden, Arps. He also practiced at other large multinational law firms, and served as an arbitrator.
Over the years, Joe has been named one of the “World’s Leading IP Strategists,” “World’s Leading Patent Professionals” and IP “Global Leaders” by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) publications. He is also recognized by Chambers and Super Lawyers.
Joe serves on the board of the Licensing Executives Society – Silicon Valley chapter, and the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley.
Joe was originally a research engineer in the aerospace & energy fields. He holds a J.D. from Stanford Law School and a Ph.D. (engineering) from the California Institute of Technology.
