Coblentz welcomes Barbara N. Barath to the Partnership

San Francisco (July 9, 2025) – San Francisco-based law firm Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP is pleased to announce that Barbara N. Barath, a seasoned intellectual property litigator and experienced trial lawyer, has joined the firm’s partnership. Barbara joins Coblentz from Debevoise & Plimpton.

Barbara Barath focuses on intellectual property litigation and high-stakes technology disputes to help clients protect proprietary technologies and defend against IP claims. With a proven track record of successful trial outcomes and favorable settlements, Barbara has served as lead strategist on numerous complex patent, trade secret, copyright, and trademark matters. She has litigated disputes relating to a broad range of technologies from semiconductor fabrication to USB, memory, communications, networking, cloud storage, two-way radio, mobile device user interface, mobile device management, data compression, spinal derotation, refrigerator water filter, and CAD.

She has over fifteen years of experience representing Fortune 500 and multinational technology clients in multimillion-dollar cases. In 2020, she helped secure a landmark $764.6 million jury verdict and $34.2 million in attorneys’ fees in a case involving the misappropriation of confidential materials and copyright-protected source code.

“Barbara’s extensive IP litigation experience with patent, trade secrets, trademark, and copyright matters makes her a strong addition to our IP practice. Her work with leading Bay Area technology companies positions her as a key resource for clients,” said Sara Finigan, Managing Partner of the firm. “We are delighted to welcome Barbara to Coblentz.”

A thought leader in the trade secrets legal community, Barbara serves as Vice Chair of the ABA-IPL Trade Secrets and Interferences with Contracts Committee, speaks at conferences such as the AIPLA Trade Secret Summit, and participates in the Sedona Conference Trade Secrets Working Group.

“I’m thrilled to join the IP litigation group at Coblentz,” said Barbara Barath. “What drew me to the firm was not only its 130-year legacy and reputation as one of San Francisco’s leading mid-sized law firms, but also the breadth and depth of the IP team’s experience. Our team members have helped shape the landscape of copyright law in both the Napster and AI eras, represented global technology leaders in multi-million-dollar patent litigation, and are among the few who have litigated TTAB matters to trial. I look forward to building on this strong foundation and further expanding the firm’s IP litigation capabilities.”

Prior to joining Coblentz, Barbara helped lead the Technology Litigation Group at Debevoise & Plimpton, was a partner in the IP Litigation Group at Kirkland & Ellis and was an associate in the IP Litigation Group at Morrison & Foerster. Earlier in her career, she served in the Major Crimes Division of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office before entering private practice as an associate at Morrison & Foerster.

Coblentz’s Intellectual Property team counsels and advocates across all aspects of IP management and litigation. Our team members have represented many of the world’s leading technology companies in their most important patent and trade secret matters and have litigated copyrighted source code and AI tool-related cases. Our firm has built a national reputation for successful copyright litigation for the music industry. We have also prosecuted trademarks and successfully litigated trademark infringement and domain name enforcement cases on behalf of clients in a wide range of industries before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and the World Intellectual Property Organization, as well as in federal court.