Overview
Gregory Morris is the Leader of Honigman's Life Sciences Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Group. Armed with more than 20 years of legal experience and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Northwestern University, Gregory’s practice focuses on pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device patent litigation. He represents the industry's most sophisticated companies on the brand-side in Hatch-Waxman litigation and regularly litigates inter partes review (IPR) proceedings before the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Lauded for his “strong technical expertise,” Gregory is considered to be “a great communicator who really digs into the science and explains things in layman's terms" (Chambers USA). In the first-ever successful defense of an Orange Book-listed patent in an IPR review, Gregory co-led a team of attorneys who represented a pharmaceutical company in the matter.
Gregory was recognized in the Crain’s Chicago Business 2019 list of “Notable Gen X Leaders in Law.” He has also been named a Patent Star by Managing IP each year since 2016 and a Life Sciences Star by LMG Life Sciences each year since 2017 for general patent litigation, patent strategy and management, and Hatch-Waxman patent litigation. In addition, IAM Patent 1000 recognized Gregory as one of the World’s Leading Patent Practitioners in 2020. Gregory has been quoted extensively in the media and writes and lectures widely on Hatch-Waxman litigation, biologics, and the PTAB.
Services
Practice Areas
Industries
Experience
Representative Matters
Significant representative matters include:
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Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Allergan, and Forest Laboratories
Lead counsel for Ironwood Pharmaceuticals in Hatch-Waxman patent infringement litigation to protect clients’ prescription digestive drug, Linzess®. Obtained consent judgments with injunctions against all defendants. (D. Del.) (Jan. 2020) - Merck and 3M
Represented Merck and 3M in patent infringement litigation filed by AptarGroup relating to Merck’s prescription asthma product, Dulera®. Achieved a complete victory whereby the asserted patents were invalidated in parallel IPRs and the complaint was dismissed with prejudice. (PTAB) (Nov. 2019) (N.D. Ill.) (Jan. 2020) - Ironwood Pharmaceuticals
Lead counsel for Ironwood Pharmaceuticals in IPR proceeding where Synergy Pharmaceuticals challenged client’s patent related to peptide therapeutics for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, obtaining an order terminating the proceedings. (PTAB) (Nov. 2018) - Merck
Co-lead counsel for Merck in IPR action against Apotex who was seeking to challenge a patent protecting Merck’s prescription product, Emend®. Obtained a win whereby the institution of the IPR proceeding was denied. (PTAB) (Oct. 2015)* - Galderma Labs. and Supernus Pharmaceuticals
Represented Galderma and Supernus in parallel IPRs and Hatch-Waxman patent infringement litigation to protect clients’ prescription rosacea drug, Oracea®. Co-led team that obtained IPR win after final written decision that was the first-ever successful defense of an Orange Book-listed patent in an IPR review. Obtained consent judgments with injunctions against all defendants. (PTAB) (D. Del.)* - Sanofi
Represented Sanofi in Hatch-Waxman patent infringement litigation to protect client’s prescription digestive drug, Uroxatral ®. Obtained a bench trial verdict at the close of evidence finding infringement and upholding the validity of the patents. Obtained consent judgments with injunctions against all defendants. (D. Del.)* - Alexion Pharmaceuticals
Represented Alexion in patent infringement litigation brought by PDL involving client's humanized antibody drug, Soliris®, obtaining a dismissal of all claims. (D. Del.)* - Forest Laboratories and Lundbeck A/S
Represented Forest and Lundbeck in Hatch-Waxman patent infringement litigation to protect clients’ prescription digestive drug, Lexapro®. Obtained consent judgments with injunctions against all defendants after bench trial. (D. Del.)*
* Matter handled prior to joining Honigman
Prior Experience
- Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Partner
- Fish & Neave LLP, Associate/Patent Agent
Credentials
Education
- Fordham Intellectual Property Media & Entertainment Law Journal, Associate Editor
- Organic Chemistry
- English Literature
Admissions
- Illinois
- New York
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Recognition
Awards
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers, 2021
- IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals, Recognized as one of the World’s Leading Patent Practitioners, 2020-2021
- Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Gen X Leaders in Law, 2019
- LMG Life Sciences, Recognized as a Life Sciences Star, 2017-2021
- Recognized for General Patent Litigation, Patent Strategy & Management, Hatch-Waxman Patent Litigation
- Managing Intellectual Property IP STARS, Recognized as a Patent Star, 2016-2021
Professional & Community Involvement
New Jersey Intellectual Property Owners Association
New York Intellectual Property Law Association
The Richard Linn American Inn of Court