Atty. Eric M. Acker
Eric Acker is a partner and trial lawyer in the firm’s Intellectual Property Group. Mr.
Commercial Litigation & More Attorney · Serving San Diego, CA
Profile Summary
About Eric M. Acker at a Glance
Eric M. Acker is a patent, business, ip, and litigation attorney based in San Diego, California, practicing at Morrison Foerster. Admitted to practice in California, The State Bar of California and District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar. Educated at University of California Berkeley (J.D., 1985) and University of California Berkeley (—, 1985). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Intellectual Property (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Patent (2026). Serves clients in San Diego, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Eric M. Acker
- Eric Acker is a partner and trial lawyer in the firm’s Intellectual Property Group
- Mr. Acker has tried more than 50 trials (including more than 47 jury trials) in courtrooms across the country
- Mr. Acker’s recent trials have involved a variety of technologies and significant legal issues
- In the high-profile SCO v
- Novell case, following a three-week trial, the jury affirmed our client Novell’s ownership of the copyrights to the UNIX software code and rejected SCO’s claim for damages of $100 to $200 million
- Mr. Acker received a 2012 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year Award (CLAY Award) for the defense of Novell
- During the past several years, Mr. Acker has tried patent cases in numerous jurisdictions, including New York, New Jersey, Utah, California, Texas and Massachusetts, and Nevada
- In addition to winning the CLAY award in 2012, Mr. Acker was named the Best Lawyers in America San Diego Litigation Patent Lawyer of the Year in 2014 and San Diego Litigation - Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year in 2018
- He is also recommended as a leading lawyer by Best Lawyers in America 2009-2018 and Legal 500 US 2013, and was named a “California Local Litigation Star” in the 2015-2018 issues of Benchmark Litigation
- Prior to joining Morrison & Foerster in 1999, Mr. Acker spent ten years as a federal prosecutor in the U.S
- Attorney’s Offices for the District of Columbia and the Southern District of California
- He is a past Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference for the Southern District of California, and also a Master in the Louis Welsh Inn of Court, San Diego Chapter
- Mr. Acker was Phi Beta Kappa at the University of California at Berkeley where he received his B.S
- He received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School, where he served as an Associate Editor of the Michigan Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif
Practice Areas Explained
Eric M. Acker's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Eric M. Acker handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in San Diego.
Patent Law in San Diego
Eric M. Acker is one of 20,632 patent attorneys indexed nationally. Browse patent attorneys in California →
Business & Corporate Law in San Diego
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Eric M. Acker is one of 497,491 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in California →
Intellectual Property in San Diego
IP attorneys protect inventions, brands, and creative work through patent prosecution, trademark registration, copyright, and trade-secret enforcement.
Eric M. Acker is one of 105,285 ip attorneys indexed nationally. Browse ip attorneys in California →
Civil Litigation in San Diego
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Eric M. Acker is one of 450,751 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in California →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in San Diego
Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in San Diego are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
San Diego Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a San Diego-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in San Diego or all attorneys in California.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in San Diego Choose Eric M. Acker
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Eric M. Acker's practice in the field of patent, business, ip, and litigation.
Multi-State Bar Admission
Licensed in California, The State Bar of California and District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar, Eric M. Acker can represent clients in cases that span state lines or require counsel in multiple jurisdictions.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering patent, business, and ip, Eric M. Acker can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in San Diego
A San Diego-based practice means Eric M. Acker attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues Eric M. Acker Handles in San Diego
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters Eric M. Acker has experience with under California law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact Eric M. Acker directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
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How People Find Eric M. Acker Online
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Eric M. Acker's Practice Areas & Specializations
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