Benjamin Wang is an associate in the Los Angeles office of Irell & Manella LLP and a member of the firm’s litigation, intellectual property litigation and appellate groups. Mr. Wang’s practice focuses on complex business and intellectual property litigation at both the trial court and appellate court levels. 

In 2008, Mr. Wang was selected for inclusion in Los Angeles Magazine’s Southern California “Rising Stars” in general litigation.

Mr. Wang earned his law degree from USC Gould School of Law, where he graduated as a member of the honor society Order of the Coif. While at USC, Mr. Wang was the Executive Notes Editor of the Southern California Law Review, authored “Supplying the Tax Shelter Industry: Contingent Fee Compensation for Accountants Spurs Production,” 76 S. Cal. L. Rev. 1237 (2003), received the James Tam Award for academic excellence, and served as a teaching assistant for Professor George Lefcoe’s Real Estate Transactions and Real Estate Finance classes, and legal writing instructor. Mr. Wang also spent a summer as an extern in the Trustee Program of the United States Department of Justice.

Prior to joining Irell & Manella, Mr. Wang served as a law clerk to the Honorable Ferdinand F. Fernandez, Circuit Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2005–2006), and to the Honorable George H. King, District Judge for the United States District Court for the Central District of California (2004–2005).

Representative Matters

Knowles Electronics, LLC v. AAC Acoustic Technologies Holdings Inc., et al., (N.D. Ill.) – Represented AAC, a developer and manufacturer of miniature audio components, in a trade secret case. After two months of expedited discovery, including expert reports, over twenty depositions taken throughout the country and around the world, over four “emergency” motions by opposing counsel, and an 11-day hearing before the Honorable John Grady, the Court ruled completely in AAC’s favor, finding that the purported trade secrets were not trade secrets and were not used by AAC. Mr. Wang served as part of the trial team and took the direct examination of AAC’s corporate representative.

Peer Communications Corp. v. Skype, Inc., et al. (E.D. Tex.) – Represented Skype, a world-leading Voice over Internet communications company, and its parent eBay in a case brought by a subsidiary of Acacia Research Corporation, which accused Skype’s pioneering VoIP software of patent infringement. After securing claim construction rulings that were favorable to Skype, Peer stipulated to final judgment of invalidity.

Patton v. Estate Strategies, Inc., et al. (Cal. App.) – Represented amici curiae Bet Tzedek, Public Counsel, and several other advocacy groups before the California Courts of Appeal in successfully urging the Court to allow an elderly individual’s claims to proceed solely in Superior Court, rather than in multiple forums, such as arbitration, civil litigation, and probate court. The amicus brief and oral argument highlighted the unique problems faced by elder abuse victims, including the all too common occurrence that elderly plaintiffs are forced to endure multiple and possibly conflicting proceedings.

Zenith Electronics Corp. v. Thomson, Inc., et al. (E.D. Tex.) – Represented Thomson in a patent infringement case involving high definition set-top boxes. The case settled favorably for Thomson.

Net2Phone, Inc. v. Skype, Inc., et al. (D. N.J.) – Represents Skype, a world-leading Voice over Internet communications company, and its parent eBay in a patent infringement case involving computer networking technology. The accused product is Skype’s pioneering VoIP software.

Mr. Wang has also advised clients involved with well-known social networking websites in cases alleging antitrust violations, securities fraud, copyright infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, and breach of contract.

Bar & Court Admissions

• 2003, California
• U.S. District Court, Central District of California
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit