Byron Yafuso is an associate in the Cooley Godward Litigation department. He joined the Firm in 2003 and is resident in the San Diego office.

Mr. Yafuso’s practice focuses on general business litigation, including intellectual property and employment litigation.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Yafuso worked for QUALCOMM Incorporated for nearly 13 years. During his career at Qualcomm, Mr. Yafuso served as a Director of Engineering, acting as technical and managerial leader for groups of engineers and managers. He later served as an in-house patent attorney specializing in the drafting and prosecution of technologically complex patents. Mr. Yafuso has a strong technical background in wireless communications and Internet technologies and substantial professional management experience.

Mr. Yafuso has counseled clients in a variety of civil litigation matters dealing with issues of patent infringement (assertion and defense), contract and licensing disputes, trade secret misappropriation, violations of commercial e-mail (spam) laws, wrongful termination, and employment discrimination, including under Labor Code § 132a of California’s Workers Compensation statutes.

Mr. Yafuso is active in the pro bono community, earning a Distinguished Service Award from the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program in April, 2005. He has also served as a volunteer Deputy District Attorney for San Diego County, obtaining convictions in several criminal jury trials.

Mr. Yafuso graduated cum laude from the University of San Diego School of Law in December of 2002 where, among other distinctions, he served as a member of the San Diego Law review. Mr. Yafuso also received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF).

Mr. Yafuso is a member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. He is also a member of the J. Clifford Wallace American Inn of Court, the San Diego Intellectual Property Law Association, and the Labor and Employment section of the California Bar.