Cooley Disqualified From Aktana IP Case Over ‘Troubling’ Overlap

Veeva Systems Inc. convinced a federal judge to disqualify Cooley LLP from defending Aktana Inc. in their patent dispute because the lead attorney previously represented Veeva in another lawsuit involving similar technology.

Judge John F. Murphy found “troubling technical overlap” in Christa Anderson’s work for Aktana, noting the patents at issue stemmed from applications included in a 2014 settlement agreement she contributed to as Veeva’s counsel, according to the opinion filed July 3 in the US District Court for the District of Delaware.

Murphy’s opinion signaled his displeasure with Veeva’s delay in moving for Anderson’s disqualification, with the parties leaving ...