Manatt Continues Growth of Digital and Technology Team With Arrival of Bay Area Partners

Timothy Lohse’s extensive intellectual property litigation and prosecution experience and Michel Narganes’ sophisticated corporate work on behalf of venture-backed startups strengthen Firm’s digital and technology capabilities

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, a multidisciplinary, integrated professional services firm, announced today that Manatt Digital and Technology Partners Timothy Lohse and Michel C. Narganes have joined the Firm in its Palo Alto and San Francisco offices, respectively. The arrival of Lohse—a member of the Technology and Intellectual Property Litigation practice—and Narganes—a member of the Digital and Technology Transactions practice—further augments Manatt’s legal, regulatory and consulting offerings for entrepreneurs, business leaders and VCs, underscoring its continued commitment to supporting clients at the forefront of the rapidly evolving digital frontier.

“As Manatt continues to guide clients across the increasingly complex digital environment, we are thrilled to welcome Tim and Michel, who both have a deep understanding of what businesses, inventors and entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 companies, and investors need to protect their assets and reach their business goals,” said Donna L. Wilson, Manatt’s CEO and Managing Partner. “Tim’s history of successfully prosecuting highly complex patent matters coupled with Michel’s proven track record of supporting emerging companies’ innovation and growth strategies further deepen our industry-leading legal and consulting offerings on behalf of those at the intersection of technology, business and the law.”

A seasoned patent practitioner, Lohse focuses on patent prosecution, litigation and counseling for emerging companies and has deep technical knowledge in a variety of areas, including intellectual property and technology; international trade, regulatory and government affairs; mergers and acquisitions; capital markets; litigation; and arbitration and investigations. He also has substantial background advising clients on patent preparation and prosecution for software technologies—such as computer cache memory replacement strategies, wireless applications, database storage systems, content searching algorithms and other web-based business systems, as well as in the solar panel and solar module system sectors. Additionally, Lohse has significant trial experience in patent reexaminations and inter partes reviews (IPRs).

“Tim brings a wealth of patent litigation knowledge to our team, having an impressive record of supplementing trusted legal counsel with technical skills to help clients protect core proprietary inventions and technologies,” said Manatt’s Technology and Intellectual Property Litigation practice Leader Amar L. Thakur. “His knowledge of sophisticated technologies and extensive trial experience make him a valuable addition to our team as we continue to develop transformative strategies for clients across the nation.”

“Manatt has a unique and entrepreneurial framework that provides hybridized legal and consulting services to its robust roster of clients, and I am delighted to join the Firm’s forward-thinking bench of litigators and business professionals as they serve industry stakeholders both inside and out of the courtroom,” Lohse added.

Narganes has guided venture-backed startups and other clients through licensing, commercial transactions, corporate law, merger and acquisitions, and financing matters for more than 15 years. Her work with disruptors, such as clients in the growing cryptocurrency, blockchain and NFT spaces—including representing the platform that facilitated the highly publicized sale of Beeple’s piece Everydays: The First 5,000 Days in the first digital auction held by Christie’s—will also be beneficial to the disrupted and larger corporations in the midst of digital transformation partnerships and strategies. Additionally, Narganes served as former in-house counsel at a large technology company, where she played a key role in the growth of global strategic partnerships, M&As and corporate compliance operations. Further, Narganes is an entrepreneur, having founded her own legal services firm, which gave her firsthand experience tackling the gamut of challenges emerging companies face throughout their life cycles.

“Michel’s time working in-house and as an entrepreneur has made her a trusted leader in the startup community, where she leverages this experience to advise early-stage ventures, emerging companies, large corporations and investors engaging in business transactions ranging from strategic partnerships to financing matters and M&A deals,” said Manatt’s Digital and Technology Transactions practice Leader Ned Sherman. “Her background across all corners of the industry and her understanding of the business needs of clients of all sizes reflect Manatt’s own integrated professional services model, making her a perfect new addition to our team.”

Narganes added: “The way Manatt’s hybrid team works together to provide holistic counsel to clients as they disrupt today’s business landscape is unlike anything I have seen in the market. I look forward to working alongside such a diverse group of lawyers, consultants, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and policy professionals to help startups and Fortune 500 companies alike address their respective legal, regulatory and business opportunities and challenges.”

Lohse and Narganes’ arrival is the latest in Manatt’s continued expansion within the digital and technology sectors, following the recent additions of emerging companies/venture capital Partners Rustin M. Brown and Thomas W. Michael in D.C. and Los Angeles, respectively; Manatt Digital and Technology Managing Directors Kalon Gutierrez and Jennifer Millard in San Francisco; and sports executive Matthew L. Reece in Boston, who has significant name, image and likeness experience as it relates to gaming, branding, and collegiate and professional sports representation. Manatt has also been strategically expanding its roster of legal and business consulting professionals across its practices nationwide, as seen with the additions of full-time Pro Bono Partner Alexandra S. McCown in New York, D.C.-based Manatt Health Senior Advisor Amy Salerno, Los Angeles-based entertainment litigation Counsel Sarah E. Moses, health care and civil litigation Partner Megan Thibert-Ind in Chicago, antitrust and litigation Partner Steve Libowsky also in Chicago, former New York State Department of Health Director Tracy F. Raleigh in Albany, former CEO and COO of New York Health + Hospitals/Harlem Eboné M. Carrington, Chicago-based former CFPB regulator Bryan Schneider, former Massachusetts prosecutor Karin Bell, accomplished New York real estate Partner Ted Hunter, nationally recognized trial attorney Naeun Rim in Los Angeles, and D.C.-based health care professionals Linda Elam and Blair M. Cantfil.

Lohse received his J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law and his B.S.E.E. from Tufts University. Narganes received her J.D. from Boston College Law School and her B.A. from Miami University, cum laude.

About Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, is a leading professional services firm, providing integrated legal and consulting services to a global client base. With offices strategically located in California (Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto, San Francisco and Sacramento), New York (New York City and Albany), Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Boston, the firm represents sophisticated clients — including Fortune 500, middle-market and emerging companies — across a range of industry sectors such as health care; financial services; entertainment; digital and technology; and energy, environmental and real estate. For more information, visit www.manatt.com.

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