Intellectual property and technology litigator Yitai Hu has joined Norton Rose Fulbright in its San Francisco office as a partner.

Hu has handled more than 150 cases before U.S. district courts and state courts concerning patent, trade secret and licensing disputes. He also has extensive experience with Section 337 investigations before the U.S. International Trade Commission, where he has handled more than 20 investigations, 15 of which as lead counsel. While his practice focuses on technology and intellectual property disputes, Hu routinely advises clients on issues arising in transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance matters.

Hu’s career includes obtaining more than US$100 million in patent licensing fees for clients. He has experience with patent cases in court and administrative proceedings that occur outside of the U.S. He has helped clients in the U.S. and Asia with intellectual property theft and misappropriation matters as well as cases involving licensing, contract, technology transfer and commercial disputes.

“Northern California is synonymous with innovation, and Yitai has earned a reputation as a leader in this space. We have prioritized California growth, and our clients will benefit from Yitai’s perspective,” said Jeff Cody, the firm’s U.S. managing partner.

The firm said, in a statement, that Hu and his experience advising clients on complex legal issues involving technology disputes, protection, and transactions will enhance both the firm’s national intellectual property practice as well as its rapidly expanding capabilities on the U.S. West Coast, with the firm increasing its partnership in California by nearly 40 percent over the last two years.