W. Blake Coblentz

Co-Chair, Hatch-Waxman & Biologics
Vice Chair, Intellectual Property

Blake focuses his practice on patent litigation and counseling for clients in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

A registered patent attorney, Blake has deep subject-matter knowledge in the areas of biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, gene synthesis, recombinant DNA technology, immunology, pharmaceuticals, therapeutic methods, diagnostic assays, and vaccines.

He counsels pharmaceutical companies in the areas of Paragraph IV design strategies, Hatch-Waxman litigation, and biosimilar market opportunities. Blake’s broader experience includes preparing patentability, infringement, and invalidity opinions; prosecuting U.S. and foreign patent applications; developing patent portfolios; advising on complex IP licensing and transactional due diligence; and counselling on trade secret protection, litigation avoidance, and risk management. Blake represents patent owners and challengers in inter partes reviews before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

Blake is not just a litigator; he’s a trial lawyer. His ability to bring clarity to complex issues through effective depositions and examinations of witnesses have led to significant victories for his clients. Blake’s notable trial wins in the pharmaceutical sector include a favorable decision of non-infringement in the first ever case to go to trial under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act and the only successful defense to date of patents on a transdermal testosterone product. 

In addition to his patent practice, Blake represents clients in trademark and trade secret litigation. He has represented a major river cruise company in trademark and breach of contract litigation and a group of major league baseball teams in trade secret litigation over methods for pitching a baseball.

Blake graduated from DePaul University College of Law. He earned a master’s degree in molecular cell biology from Washington University in St. Louis and his bachelor’s degree in biology, cum laude, from Birmingham-Southern College.

Outside of his legal practice, Blake enjoys volunteering as a baseball coach. He takes great pride in mentoring kids and teaching them the right way to play sports, and has taken several of his baseball teams to play in tournaments up and down the East Coast.

Experience

News

Seven Cozen O’Connor Intellectual Property Attorneys Recognized by IAM Patent 1000

June 13, 2024

IAM Patent 1000 has named Frank Abramonte, Blake Coblentz, Thomas Fisher, Keith Fredlake, Jeffrey Gendzwill, Barry Golob, and Edward Weisz to their 2024 list.

Supreme Court Won't Review Vanda's IP Obviousness Appeal

April 22, 2024

Cozen O'Connor successfully represented Apotex Inc. in a patent dispute with Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. over the sleep disorder drug Hetlioz.

Fed. Circ. Won't Revive Vanda's Sleep Disorder Patent Claims

May 10, 2023

Cozen O'Connor successfully represented Apotex in a patent dispute with Vanda Pharmaceuticals over the sleep disorder drug Hetlioz.

Fed. Circ. Won't Bar Generic Sleep Meds Amid Vanda Appeal

January 03, 2023

Cozen O'Connor successfully represented Apotex at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in securing a denial of Vanda Pharmaceuticals' bid to seek an injunction pending an appeal of Apotex's and Teva's victory in the District of Delaware.

Teva, Apotex Win Ax Of Patents In Sleep Drug Suit

December 13, 2022

Cozen O’Connor scored a major win for Apotex Inc. and Apotex Corp. in federal court in Delaware.

Even With Pandemic, Patent Suit Filings Held Steady In 2021

May 18, 2022

Blake Coblentz was quoted in Law 360 discussing the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on patent filings.

Cozen O’Connor Announces Changes to Firm Management 2022

March 23, 2022

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce the following changes in firm leadership positions for the 2022 year.

Q&A: Shouvik Biswas, Aaron Lukas and Blake Coblentz on the America Invents Act

September 16, 2021

Blake Coblentz and Aaron Lukas spoke with World Intellectual Property Review to discuss the 10-year anniversary of the America Invents Act (AIA).

How the rise of PTAB discretionary denials impacts Hatch-Waxman strategies

February 11, 2021

Blake Coblentz was quoted in IAM discussing how the recent denial of a Mylan IPR petition suggests that some pharma patents may be insulated from controversial administrative challenges, with serious implications for generic litigation strategies.

Rush for Generic Go-Ahead on Novel Drugs Roils Pharma Industry

June 19, 2020

Blake Coblentz was quoted in Bloomberg Law discussing how generic drugmakers are increasingly lining up to bring competing versions of brand-name products to the market at the earliest possible date.

Lawyering Through Covid-19: What We’ve Heard From the Practices

May 28, 2020

Blake Coblentz was quoted in Bloomberg Law about how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting a cross-section of practice groups and industries.

Publications

Biotechnology at the Supreme Court—Will the U.S. Government Back Amgen’s Petition? [IPWatchdog]

May 04, 2022

Blake Coblentz and Aaron Lukas co-authored an article following up on a previous discussion about two issues that they will be watching closely this year relating to litigation involving small and large molecule therapies.

Two Pharma and Biotech Cases to Watch in 2022 [IPWatchdog]

February 02, 2022

Blake Coblentz and Aaron Lukas co-authored an article about two issues that they will be watching closely this year relating to litigation involving small and large molecule therapies.

Hatch-Waxman and BPCIA Cases and Trends to Watch in 2021 [IPWatchdog]

January 25, 2021

Blake Coblentz and Aaron Lukas co-authored an article about two major cases in 2021 that could have long-lasting effects on where and how Hatch-Waxman and Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA) cases are litigated.

The PTAB Puts Hatch-Waxman Defendants on Notice: File IPRs Early or Risk Fintiv Discretionary Denial [IPWatchdog]

October 29, 2020

Blake Coblentz, Aaron Lukas, and Keri Schaubert wrote about the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) denying the institution of Mylan Labs Ltd.’s petition for IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,439,906 (“the ’906 patent”) in IPR2020-00440.

Maybe Biosimilar Applicants Should Dance After All [Biosimilar Development]

June 30, 2020

Blake Coblentz and Aaron Lukas wrote an article about the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act and the issues applicants face whether to go through the patent dance.

Will the Supreme Court choose to weigh in (again) on prosecution history estoppel? [Westlaw]

May 29, 2020

Blake Coblentz and Aaron Lukas speculate over the possibility of the Supreme Court revisiting patent prosecution history estoppel principles.

Summary and Analysis of Key Provisions of the CARES Act

March 28, 2020

Members of Cozen O'Connor's Coronavirus Task Force provide analysis of the CARES Act and how it will impact small businesses, distressed industries, employers and employees, taxes, and the health care, real estates, and energy industries.

Education

  • DePaul University College of Law, J.D., 2005
  • Washington University in St. Louis, M.A., 2002
  • Birmingham-Southern College, B.S., cum laude, 1998

Awards & Honors

Biotech Patents Attorney of the Year in Washington, DC - Corporate Intl Magazine Global Award 2014-2015

Washington, DC Super Lawyers - Rising Star, Intellectual Property Litigation - 2014-2015

IAM Patent 1000, 2024

  • District of Columbia
  • Virginia
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. District Court -- District of Columbia
  • U.S. Supreme Court