Omar A. Khan
Partner
Omar A. Khan is a leading trial and appellate lawyer representing the world’s top technology and life sciences companies in high-stakes intellectual property matters. He is regularly recognized and ranked by Chambers, Managing IP, IAM Patent, Legal 500, Best Lawyers, and others, and he has successfully litigated some of the most challenging “bet-the-company” intellectual property matters, featured by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Law360 and other national media outlets. His nearly 20 years of courtroom experience includes jury and bench trials in district courts throughout the country, PTAB proceedings, ITC proceedings, and international arbitrations. He has argued and won cases in multiple courts of appeals, including the Second, Ninth, and Federal Circuits, and represented clients in connection with over 30 appeals before the Federal Circuit.
Outside of the courtroom, Mr. Khan is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He regularly publishes and speaks on a wide variety of intellectual property topics and developments, including as a guest speaker at Columbia, NYU and University of Michigan and as an editor of WilmerHale's Federal Circuit Patent Watch and The Interplay: Key Decisions at the Intersection of Antitrust & Life Sciences. His work has been featured as a Top Read and he also has been recognized as a Top Author and Readers Choice by JDSupra for his coverage of patents and related matters. He also has an extensive pro bono practice, which includes serving on the Pro Bono Panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the Board of Directors of The Bronx Defenders, and representing pro bono clients in veterans benefits, voting rights, and civil rights matters, for which he has received awards and recognition from the Federal Circuit Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, MFY Legal Services, and others.
Professional Activities
Mr. Khan is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He was appointed to Law360’s Intellectual Property Editorial Advisory Board for 2020–2022. Mr. Khan is a member of the Federal Circuit Bar Association, where he was vice chair of the Pro Bono Committee and continues to serve on the Pro Bono, PTO and Amicus Committees. He is also active in the New York Intellectual Property Law Association, where he serves on the Programs and Patent Litigation Committees, and in the Intellectual Property Owners Association, where he serves on the Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Issues committee.
Pro Bono
Mr. Khan has an extensive pro bono practice, with a particular focus on veterans, disability, voting rights, and civil rights matters, and has been repeatedly recognized for his pro bono work, including by the Federal Circuit Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association and MFY Legal Services. He has acted as counsel or co-counsel to The Bronx Defenders, MFY Legal Services, Disability Rights New York, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and the National Veterans Legal Services Program. He has also been appointed pro bono counsel, including by the Second, Sixth and Ninth Circuits, to represent indigent prisoners and defendants in civil appeals raising various habeas and civil rights issues, including issues of ineffective assistance of counsel, due process and equal protection.
As vice chair of the Pro Bono Committee of the Federal Circuit Bar Association, Mr. Khan coordinated the association's pro bono efforts relating to veterans and PTO appeals to the Federal Circuit. Mr. Khan also represents veterans and their spouses in Federal Circuit appeals relating to their claims for disability benefits. For his veterans work and contributions to the Pro Bono Committee, Mr. Khan was awarded the Pro Bono Advocacy Award and the Pro Bono Leadership Award by the Federal Circuit Bar Association.
Mr. Khan coached teams of middle school students for the Thurgood Marshall Junior Mock Trial competition, held annually at the Bronx Supreme Court and involving more than 1,000 students competing on behalf of 20 middle schools from the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Westchester County. He coached the St. Ignatius Loyola team that won the competition in 2010 and was featured in the New York Daily News for the victory.
Mr. Khan also represented various public interest organizations advocating for individuals with disabilities and filed amicus briefs in state and federal appellate courts on their behalf, for which he received the Pro Bono Partner in Justice Award from MFY Legal Services.
Past Experience
Prior to joining WilmerHale, Mr. Khan served as a law clerk to the Honorable William C. Bryson of the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Honorable Naomi Reice Buchwald of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Mr. Khan also served as a Patent Examiner in the United States Patent and Trademark Office from 2001 to 2003, focusing on applications for patents directed to medical devices, diagnostics and other biotechnology.
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New York Law Journal, IP Litigation Department of the Year
WilmerHale’s New York office is home to renowned IP trial lawyers—including Omar Khan—and is an anchor of the firm’s nationwide practice.
June 20, 2018Read More -
The American Lawyer, IP Litigation Department of the Year
Winner (2023, 2014, 2008) or finalist of this biennial recognition 8 times since it was first awarded in 2004.
November 16, 2023Read More -
US News, Patent Law Firm of the Year
WilmerHale named among the 2022 U.S. News Best Law Firms and also named Law Firm of the Year in Patent Law.
November 5, 2021Read More
Recognition
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Leading Lawyer for Intellectual Property
Chambers USA
2022-2024
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IP Star
Managing IP
2022-2024
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World's Leading Patent Professionals
IAM Patent 1000
2022-2024
- Recognized in Chambers USA Guide (2022–2024) in the category of Intellectual Property: Patents, with sources saying that he is a “fantastic, excellent litigator”; “absolutely fantastic”; “fantastic lawyer”; “equally a really good business partner”; “no-nonsense in his approach”; and “great at putting himself in the shoes of in-house counsel and giving his advice through that lens.”
- Recognized by IAM Patent 1000 (2022–2024), noting he is “hailed” as “smart, experienced and easy to work with,” a “practical and strategic litigator who pays attention to his clients’ goals,” skilled in the life sciences and technology fields, and has handled several “bet-the-company” cases.
- Named an IP Star by Managing Intellectual Property (2022–2024), recognized as a leading IP lawyer in Patents – United States (National) and New York, and shortlisted for Practitioner of the Year (Litigation).
- Named a Next Generation Partner by Legal 500 (2024) as well as a “key lawyer” and “noted practitioner” in Patent Litigation.
- Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America (2025) as a leading practitioner in the area of intellectual property litigation.
- Recognized in 2024 as a Top Author and Readers Choice Award recipient by JDSupra, which also named as a Top Read the inaugural edition of The Interplay: Key Decisions at the Intersection of Antitrust & Life Sciences.
- Recognized by Lawdragon (2022–2025) as one of the “Leading Litigators in America,” describing him as an “all-star litigator” for IP litigation and appellate matters.
- Litigation Daily's Litigator of the Week Runner Up for a significant triple patent case victory, 2021.
- Listed as one of the “best performing” appellate practitioners at the Federal Circuit in Patexia CAFC Intelligence Report 2021.
- Law360 Intellectual Property Editorial Advisory Board, 2020–2023.
- LMG Life Sciences, Impact Case of the Year for Enzo Life Sciences v. Roche Molecular Systems, 2020.
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation.
- Consistently recognized as a New York Super Lawyer.
- New York State Bar Association’s "Empire State Counsel" award in 2015.
- Federal Circuit Bar Association’s "Pro Bono Leadership Award" in 2012.
- Federal Circuit Bar Association’s "Pro Bono Advocacy Award" in 2011.
- MFY Legal Services’ "Pro Bono Partner in Justice Award" in 2010.
Insights & News
Credentials
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Education
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JD, Columbia Law School, 2006
Columbia Law Review, James Kent Scholar -
MS, Electrical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 2003
Honors, Tau Beta Pi
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BS, Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 2001
Honors, Tau Beta Pi
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Admissions
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New York
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US Supreme Court
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Clerkships
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The Hon. William C. Bryson, US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 2008 - 2009
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The Hon. Naomi Reice Buchwald, US District Court for the Southern District of New York, 2007 - 2008
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Government Experience
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US Patent and Trademark Office
Patent Examiner
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Credentials
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Education
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JD, Columbia Law School, 2006
Columbia Law Review, James Kent Scholar -
MS, Electrical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 2003
Honors, Tau Beta Pi
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BS, Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 2001
Honors, Tau Beta Pi
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Admissions
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New York
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US Supreme Court
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Clerkships
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The Hon. William C. Bryson, US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 2008 - 2009
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The Hon. Naomi Reice Buchwald, US District Court for the Southern District of New York, 2007 - 2008
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Government Experience
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US Patent and Trademark Office
Patent Examiner
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