Perkins Coie Adds Two Highly Respected Intellectual Property Litigators in Palo Alto

PALO ALTO (March 10, 2025) – Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that Arpita Bhattacharyya and Robert McCauley have joined the firm’s national Intellectual Property (IP) and Patent Litigation practices as partners in the Palo Alto office. 

Arpita advises clients on effective patent litigation and prosecution strategies, as well as petitioners and patent owners in all phases of inter partes review and post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. An experienced trial lawyer, Rob has represented clients with regard to a wide range of technologies, including semiconductor devices, optical amplifiers and networks, high-end bicycle suspension systems, liquid cooling systems for data centers, medical devices, software and hardware, pharmaceuticals (ANDA litigation and recombinant DNA) and other technologies. 

“We’re excited to welcome these two exceptional lawyers to our formidable Bay Area IP practice,” said Chris Hanewicz, co-chair of Perkins Coie’s IP practice. “Arpita and Rob are intensely focused on delivering excellent client service, and that spirit drives every decision our IP team makes at Perkins Coie. We want to deliver the best outcomes for our clients and Arpita and Rob will be a big part of that mission going forward.”

Arpita has successfully managed complex patent litigation cases before district courts, the International Trade Commission, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. She counsels clients across emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality and virtual reality, and digital health, as well as companies that provide medical devices and diagnostics, computer software and hardware, and other electrical and mechanical technologies. 

“Perkins Coie has a stellar reputation as one of the country’s most successful firms for IP and patent litigation,” said Arpita. “The firm is well known across the Bay Area and beyond for the prowess of its IP work and experience, and I’m looking forward to continuing to deliver top-tier service for our clients.”

As a veteran trial lawyer, Rob has examined and cross-examined hundreds of witnesses in open court and is highly skilled at preparing clients and witnesses to testify effectively in depositions and trials. He also specializes in developing themes and explanations of complex technology that judges and juries can understand.

“I’m excited to join a firm with such a formidable and entrepreneurial IP and patent litigation presence,” said Rob. “I’m looking forward to leveraging Perkins Coie’s robust, full-service platform in the Bay Area and beyond to further expand my practice.”

Arpita and Rob join from Finnegan, where Arpita co-led the firm’s AI industry working group, and Rob co-led the firm’s trade secrets litigation group. 

Arpita holds a B.E. in electronics engineering from S.V. National Institute of Technology in India, an M.S. in bioengineering from Clemson University, a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Boston University, and a J.D. from Northeastern School of Law. Rob holds a B.A. in economics from the University of California, San Diego and a J.D. and MBA from Santa Clara University School of Law.