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  3. | Sean R. McTigue

Sean R. McTigue

Partner

San Francisco

  • 415.956.1900
  • 415.291.4565
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Sean McTigue is a Partner at Bartko Pavia LLP and a member of the firm’s business litigation practice. His work involves representing both plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal litigation. Sean was instrumental in helping obtain an $845 Million judgment for ASML in one of the largest trade secret victories in U.S. history, receiving recognition from both The Daily Journal and The Recorder. The victory resulted in Bartko Pavia being ranked as Number 3 in the Top 100 Verdicts for 2018 – published by The National Law Journal (June, 2019) – and having the highest ranked intellectual property victory in the U.S. for 2018.  

During law school, Sean served as an extern for Justice Mark B. Simons of the California Court of Appeal in San Francisco and clerked with the United States Attorney’s Office, Criminal Division, in Oakland. He also competed nationally in moot court competitions, reaching the national final round in the National Moot Court Competition, as well as the regional semi-finals in the Constance Baker Motley Moot Court Competition. In law school, Sean earned the Posser Prize for excellence in Torts.

Credentials

Education

  • University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, J.D.
  • University of Utah, H.B.S.

Bar Admissions

  • State Bar of California

Experience

  • ASML US, Inc. v. XTAL, Inc. (Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara). Represented the plaintiff, a leader in computational lithography, in a case involving theft of trade secrets, breaches of contract and fiduciary duty, and computer fraud by numerous former employees who joined a competing company; second-chaired a three-week jury trial that led to one of the largest trade secret verdicts in history.
  • UEBT, California, and Sidibe, et al. v. Sutter Health, et al. (Federal and State Courts in California). Sean served as an attorney in trial courts for an integrated healthcare system in antitrust and unfair competition disputes against private class-action and government plaintiffs.
  • Stardock v. Reiche, Ford (Northern District of California). Lead counsel for defendants and cross-complainants in district court case and related proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board involving allegations of copyright and trademark infringement, unfair competition, and related claims; reached favorable settlement near the conclusion of fact discovery.
  • Koret v. Taube (San Francisco Superior Court). Sean was on the firm’s trial team representing the widow of the founder of a prominent charity in a removal action alleging breach of fiduciary duty and misuse of charitable funds.
  • Netlist v. Diablo (Northern District of California). Sean represented plaintiff in the trial of trade secret, patent, and trademark claims involving HyperCloud® LR-DIMM memory module technology.

Insights

Press Release

14, May 2025

Bartko Pavia’s Patrick M. Ryan obtains $222 million jury verdict against Walmart

Press Contact

Media Mentions

25, October 2024

Bartko Pavia Files Motion for Sanctions Against Walmart on Behalf of Zest Labs Over Alleged Concealed Patents

San Francisco, CA – October 25, 2024 – As featured in Law 360– Patrick Ryan, co-managing partner of Bartko LLP, and a specialist in intellectual property and trade secret litigation, has filed a motion for sanctions against Walmart Inc. on behalf of Zest Labs, Inc. The motion, filed with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, accuses Walmart of withholding critical patent-related evidence in ongoing litigation over Zest’s proprietary shelf-freshness technology.

Media Mentions

05, February 2024

Bartko Pavia Obtains Defense Win in Uber Trade Secret Case

San Francisco, CA — The Bartko team, led by Patrick M. Ryan and Sean McTigue, scored a major win in trade secret, tort, and breach of contract case entitled Bama Commercial Leasing LLC v. Uber Technologies, Inc., CGC-19-579763 (S.F. Super. Ct., filed Oct. 3, 2019).

Press Release

05, June 2023

Hospitals Score Another Massive Victory Against the Blues as Court Rejects Insurance Companies’ Second Attempt to Dismiss Healthcare Providers’ Antitrust Claims

San Francisco, CA – In a June 5, 2023 Order, only made available on the public docket late June 6, 2023, the Honorable Evelio Grillo of the Alameda Superior Court, in VHS Liquidating Trust, et al. v. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, et al., Case Number RG21106600, issued a comprehensive Order resoundingly rejecting the Defendant Blues’ second attempt to dismiss the Plaintiffs’ claims.

Press Release

01, June 2022

Court Rejects Insurance Companies’ Effort to Dismiss Antitrust Claims and Limit Damages of Healthcare Providers

San Francisco, CA – On June 1, 2022, the Honorable Evelio Grillo of the Alameda Superior Court, in VHS Liquidating Trust, et al. v. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, et al., Case Number RG21106600, issued two comprehensive orders that emphatically rejected the Defendants’ attempts to dismiss the Plaintiffs’ claims and limit their potential damages.

Press Release

19, February 2020

Bartko Pavia Wins $845 Million Trade Secret Verdict for ASML

February 19, 2020 – Bartko Pavia scored the highest Intellectual Property and Trade Secrets victory in California in 2019 and was ranked Number 2 overall in the California Daily Journal’s Top Verdicts (PDF) by Dollar in California for 2019. In May of 2019, Bartko secured an $845,114,000.00 victory in Santa Clara County Superior Court. Patrick M. Ryan is quoted as saying: “One thing that’s always a challenge in a trade secret or intellectual property trial is the need to make complex technology simple and easy to understand for the jury.” Also, Patrick stated: “Over the course of the trial, we really went through the technology and explained how it worked and why it was important, and the jury really got it.”The trial team from Bartko was led by Patrick M. Ryan, and he and Stephen Steinberg, Sean McTigue, and Brian Smith all examined witnesses and gave argument during the trial, supported by Bartko attorneys Joseph Fraresso and Chad DeVeaux.

Press Release

19, February 2020

Patrick M. Ryan Scores Largest IP and Trade Secrets Victory in California for 2019 and 2nd Highest Overall Verdict According to the California Daily Journal

February 19, 2020 – Bartko Pavia scored the highest Intellectual Property and Trade Secrets victory in California in 2019 and was ranked Number 2 overall in the California Daily Journal’s Top Verdicts by Dollar in California for 2019. In May of 2019, Bartko secured an $845,114,000.00 victory in Santa Clara County Superior Court.The trial team from Bartko was led by Patrick M. Ryan, and he and Stephen Steinberg, Sean McTigue, and Brian Smith examined witnesses and gave argument during the trial, supported by Bartko attorneys Joseph Fraresso, Alden Lee, and Chad DeVeaux.

Honors and Awards

30, June 2019

Bartko Pavia Ranked Number 3 in The National Law Journal Top 100 Verdicts

Bartko Pavia ranked Number 3 in the Top 100 Verdicts for 2018 published by The National Law Journal (June, 2019) and had the highest ranked intellectual property victory in the United States for 2018. In November 2018, with a final un-appealed judgment entered in May of 2019, Bartko Pavia secured an $845,114,000.00 victory in Santa Clara County Superior Court. (See attached award from the National Law Journal).

Press Release

31, May 2019

Bartko Pavia Firm Obtains $845,114,000 Judgment for ASML Against XTAL, Inc.

On Friday, May 3, 2019, a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge entered judgment in favor of ASML US, LLC and against XTAL, Inc. in the case ASML US, Inc. v. XTAL, Inc., Santa Clara Superior Court Case No. 16-CV-295051, in the amount of $845,114,000.00. The entry of judgment finalizes the verdict returned by the jury on November 28, 2018, in favor of ASML on all five claims pleaded by ASML in its Third Amended Complaint against XTAL for theft of trade secrets, inducing former employees to breach their contracts with ASML, aiding and abetting former employees to breach their fiduciary duty of loyalty to ASML, and multiple violations of California’s Computer Data Access and Fraud Act (Cal. Penal Code Section 502). The jury also found that XTAL’s conduct as to all counts was malicious, entitling ASML to an award of punitive damages on all counts and attorneys’ fees on its Penal Code and trade secret claims. ASML’s trial team from Bartko Pavia was led by Patrick M. Ryan, and he and Stephen Steinberg, Sean McTigue, and Brian Smith examined witnesses and gave argument during the trial, supported by attorneys Andrew Winetroub, Joseph Fraresso, Alden Lee, Rishi Gupta, and Chad DeVeaux. Patrick Ryan, Sean McTigue, and Richard Lapping of Trodella & Lapping LLP represented ASML’s interests in XTAL’s bankruptcy proceedings initiated just before judgment was about to be entered.

Press Release

01, May 2019

Bartko Pavia is Pleased to Announce That Business Litigation Attorney, Sean McTigue, is now a Principal of the Firm

“This is well-deserved given Sean’s enormous contributions of skill and time, as well as successful client development.  Sean’s progress as a lawyer is an inspiration to all as we continue to grow and achieve even greater success,” said managing shareholder Rob Bunzel.

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Publications

  • Trade Secrets 2019: What Every Lawyer Should Know
  • Panel Speaker, Practicing Law Institute (PLI), October 2019

Areas of Focus

Practices

  • Intellectual Property
  • Litigation

Industries

  • Healthcare
  • Technology

Insights & News

Press Release

30, October 2025

An Ruda Serves as Judge at the Berkeley Female Founders & Funders Summit

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Honors and Awards

17, May 2023

Patrick M. Ryan Ranked Top IP Lawyer

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Media Mentions

27, October 2025

Steve Vieux Featured in Law360 Coverage of the California Lawyers Association’s Golden State Institute

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Press Release

17, December 2025

Bartko Pavia Elevates Four Attorneys to Partnership

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Honors and Awards

26, November 2025

Patrick M. Ryan Named to Daily Journal’s 2025 “Top Antitrust Lawyers” List

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Honors and Awards

23, September 2025

Patrick M. Ryan Earns Repeat Recognition as 2025 Top 100 Lawyer

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Media Mentions

30, May 2025

Zest Labs $222M Verdict Gains Widespread Media Coverage

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Honors and Awards

01, January 2025

Bartko Pavia Earns Recognition in 2025 Best Law Firms® Rankings

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Press Release

31, May 2019

Bartko Pavia Firm Obtains $845,114,000 Judgment for ASML Against XTAL, Inc.

Learn more

Press Release

01, August 2025

Bartko Pavia Continues Strategic Expansion with Addition of Antitrust Partner Ian Papendick

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Media Mentions

05, February 2024

Bartko Pavia Obtains Defense Win in Uber Trade Secret Case

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Honors and Awards

24, January 2024

Patrick M. Ryan Named Leading Commercial Litigator

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Press Release

14, May 2025

Bartko Pavia’s Patrick M. Ryan obtains $222 million jury verdict against Walmart

Learn more

Honors and Awards

08, November 2023

Bartko Pavia Ranked Top Litigation Boutique

Learn more

Press Release

11, March 2022

Bartko Pavia Scores Huge Defense Jury Verdict in $411 Million Sutter Health Antitrust Class Action

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Press Release

07, February 2023

Bartko Pavia Clients Win $680 Million Francesca Naify Case

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Press Release

30, October 2025

An Ruda Serves as Judge at the Berkeley Female Founders & Funders Summit

Learn more

Honors and Awards

17, May 2023

Patrick M. Ryan Ranked Top IP Lawyer

Learn more

Media Mentions

27, October 2025

Steve Vieux Featured in Law360 Coverage of the California Lawyers Association’s Golden State Institute

Learn more

Press Release

17, December 2025

Bartko Pavia Elevates Four Attorneys to Partnership

Learn more

Honors and Awards

26, November 2025

Patrick M. Ryan Named to Daily Journal’s 2025 “Top Antitrust Lawyers” List

Learn more

Honors and Awards

23, September 2025

Patrick M. Ryan Earns Repeat Recognition as 2025 Top 100 Lawyer

Learn more

Media Mentions

30, May 2025

Zest Labs $222M Verdict Gains Widespread Media Coverage

Learn more

Honors and Awards

01, January 2025

Bartko Pavia Earns Recognition in 2025 Best Law Firms® Rankings

Learn more

Press Release

31, May 2019

Bartko Pavia Firm Obtains $845,114,000 Judgment for ASML Against XTAL, Inc.

Learn more

Press Release

01, August 2025

Bartko Pavia Continues Strategic Expansion with Addition of Antitrust Partner Ian Papendick

Learn more

Media Mentions

05, February 2024

Bartko Pavia Obtains Defense Win in Uber Trade Secret Case

Learn more

Honors and Awards

24, January 2024

Patrick M. Ryan Named Leading Commercial Litigator

Learn more

Press Release

14, May 2025

Bartko Pavia’s Patrick M. Ryan obtains $222 million jury verdict against Walmart

Learn more

Honors and Awards

08, November 2023

Bartko Pavia Ranked Top Litigation Boutique

Learn more

Press Release

11, March 2022

Bartko Pavia Scores Huge Defense Jury Verdict in $411 Million Sutter Health Antitrust Class Action

Learn more

Press Release

07, February 2023

Bartko Pavia Clients Win $680 Million Francesca Naify Case

Learn more

Press Release

30, October 2025

An Ruda Serves as Judge at the Berkeley Female Founders & Funders Summit

Learn more

Honors and Awards

17, May 2023

Patrick M. Ryan Ranked Top IP Lawyer

Learn more

Media Mentions

27, October 2025

Steve Vieux Featured in Law360 Coverage of the California Lawyers Association’s Golden State Institute

Learn more

View all Insights

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