As a member of Sutherland’s Intellectual Property Practice Group and a seasoned litigator involved in complex civil matters, Ann Fort protects the intellectual property rights of numerous clients in the United States and abroad. Her comprehensive experience encompasses patent infringement, licensing disputes, trade secret protection and unfair competition. In addition to trying cases in both federal and state courts, Ann works toward alternative dispute resolution, when feasible, and represents clients in arbitrations and mediations. Her recent experience includes defending claims brought by non-practicing entities, also known as patent assertion entities. See http://www.npelitigation.com/ for more information.

Ann focuses her practice on technology businesses, and has handled cases involving loan and deposit pricing software, Internet-based information management systems, ground fault circuit interrupters, power management unit chips, interactive television program guides, computer network security protection systems, and medical information systems. She also has represented insurers and other financial services businesses in complex multi-party litigation where knowledge of internal business operations was essential to successful resolutions. In the pharmaceutical industry, Ann represents pharmaceutical patent owners in licensing disputes, and accused infringers of formulation patents, including in Hatch-Waxman litigation. In addition to U.S. and overseas corporations, Ann has represented university technology transfer organizations and non-profit research institutes.

An active leader in Sutherland’s pro bono program, Ann recently achieved clemency for a pro bono client on death row, representing him for more than 11 years before he was ultimately granted clemency just hours before his scheduled execution. She serves on American Bar Association and Georgia Bar committees charged with considering capital defense representation and related policy issues.