DBT40 Honoree: Jennifer Ying

Title: Partner

Workplace: Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP

Age: 38

Not only is Jennifer Ying a leading intellectual property litigation attorney in the state, she is also dedicated to sharing her legal acumen to those in need.

Through her work at Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP, Ying has represented clients in patent and trade secret disputes in federal and state courts. As Delaware is the corporate capital of the nation, the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware is among the top patent litigation venues as well – and Ying has been involved in around 250 patent cases in the past 11 years.

Ying’s background in technology helped build the foundation of her successful IP law career, as she graduated with dual degrees in electrical engineering & computer science and management from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She also worked as a registered patent agent for domestic and international clients.

Ying’s work earned her acclaim as top Delaware IP attorney by legal publications Chambers USA and IAM Patent 1000 this year.

Outside her work at Morris Nichols, Ying maintains an active pro bono practice through the American Civil Liberties Union, as well as working with the Delaware Volunteer Legal Services and on behalf of veterans in the Court of Veterans’ Claims. She notably helped secure $250,000 in back disability benefits for a disabled veteran, and served as guardian ad litem to help dependent and neglected children find stability.

Through her pro bono work, Ying now leads a contingent of lawyers representing a death-row inmate in challenging the federal government on the constitutionality of the lethal injection protocol.

Outside the courtroom, Ying volunteers as an educational counselor representative for MIT, interviewing local high school seniors interested in applying to the college. In her downtime, she can be found flying a Cessna airplane, scuba diving and curling with three regional clubs.