Urszula Nowak's practice focuses on biotechnology and pharmaceutical patent and trade secret litigation and other biotechnology-related commercial disputes. Urszula approaches each case from the perspective of an experienced litigator while also applying her scientific training to efficiently analyze issues and obtain a successful outcome for her clients.
Before and during law school, Urszula worked as a scientific advisor for biotechnology patent litigation at a global law firm. Prior to law school, she held a postdoctoral position in the pharmacology department of a pharmaceutical company where she gained an understanding of the drug discovery process and the importance of intellectual property protection.
In her pro bono practice, Urszula represents children in resolving disputes related to special education services.
Fordham University School of Law, J.D., Order of the Coif, 2017
Cornell University, Ph.D. in Immunology, 2011
McGill University, M.S. in Immunology, 2005
McGill University, B.S. in Microbiology and Immunology, 2003
Bar and Court Admissions
BAR ADMISSIONS
New York
Massachusetts
COURT ADMISSIONS
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Languages
Polish
Experience
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
Achieved complete victory for Alexion Pharmaceuticals in a District of Massachusetts case arising from failed negotiations over a potential business relationship to develop C3 complement therapeutics. Won summary judgment on Amyndas Pharmaceuticals’ trade secrets, unfair competition and related claims after which Amyndas dismissed with prejudice its sole remaining claim for breach of contract.
Represented Dana-Farber in second case against Bristol-Myers Squibb and Ono Pharmaceuticals, asserting claims for unjust enrichment and unfair competition for depriving Dana-Farber of its co-ownership rights under eight patents directed to cancer immunotherapy. On the eve of trial, in the face of Dana-Farber’s claim for hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, Defendants settled, making a substantial lump sum payment to Dana-Farber and agreeing to make potential additional payments, contingent on future events.
Represented Krystal Biotech in litigation brought by PeriphaGen alleging misappropriation of trade secrets and acts of “unfair competition” in connection with Krystal’s vector development. PeriphaGen also sought to add two of its employees as inventors to several of Krystal’s U.S. patents directed to methods of treating skin disorders by delivering certain genes using replication-defective HSV-1 vectors.
Represented Celsee in District of Delaware patent infringement and false advertising dispute with 10x Genomics concerning instruments for single-cell analysis and associated consumables. Case settled shortly before trial.
Represented University of Massachusetts in dispute over ownership of patents and patent applications involving siRNA technology. Obtained Consent Judgment confirming UMass’ ownership rights.
Represented Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in patent litigation against Bristol-Myers Squibb and Ono Pharmaceutical concerning inventorship and ownership of groundbreaking patents directed to PD-1/PD-L1 cancer immunotherapy. Obtained judgment for Dana-Farber correcting inventorship, making Dana-Farber a co-owner of all the patents. The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the judgment in all respects, 964 F.3d 1365 (Fed. Cir. 2020), and the United States Supreme Court denied Defendants’ petition for writ of certiorari (May 2021).
On behalf of AIPLA, filed an amicus curiae brief with the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in In re: Xencor, Inc., No. 2023-2048.
PRO BONO
Represented a public school student in a dispute with his school district related to special education and bullying. Obtained an out-of-district placement for the student.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Scientific Advisor for Intellectual Property Litigation
Postdoctoral Fellow of Investigative Pharmacology at Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.
Other Publications
Bell CJ, Sun Y, Nowak UM et al. Sustained in vivo signaling by long-lived IL-2 induces prolonged increases of regulatory T cells. Journal of Autoimmunity. Jan;56:66-80. (2015)
Vuong BQ, Herrick-Reynolds K, Vaidyanathan B, Pucella JN, Ucher AJ, Donghia NM, Gu X, Nicolas L, Nowak U, Rahman N, Strout MP, Mills KD, Stavnezer J, Chaudhuri J. A DNA break- and phosphorylation-dependent positive feedback loop promotes immunoglobulin class-switch recombination. Nature Immunology, Nov;14(11):1183-9. (2013)
Nowak U, Matthews AJ, Zheng S, Chaudhuri J. The splicing regulator PTBP2 interacts with the cytidine deaminase AID and promotes binding of AID to switch-region DNA. Nature Immunology, Feb;12(2):160-6. (2011)
Nowak U, Gill K, Skamene E, Newkirk MM. Rheumatoid factor induction in murine models of liver injury. Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Feb;147(2):324-9. (2007)
Newkirk MM, Nowak U, Skamene E, Iera D, Desbarats J. Agonistic antibodies to Fas induce a breach in the endothelial lining of the liver and a breakdown in B cell tolerance. Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Feb;147(2):346-51. (2007)
Nowak UM, Newkirk MM. Rheumatoid factors: good or bad for you? International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, Oct;138(2):180-8. (2005)
Honors & Involvement
HONORS
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch - Litigation - Intellectual Property (2024-2026) and Litigation - Patent (2026)
Member, Fordham Law Review
Cancer Research Institute Predoctoral Fellowship
Managing IP Rising Star (2024)
INVOLVEMENT
Co-chair of Patent Law Committee for the Boston Intellectual Property Law Association (2020 – 2025)
Other Events
"Update on Patent Claim Scope: Functional Claiming and Other Challenges Including AI Involvement," 5th Annual BIPLA Symposium (April 2025)
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