Debuting in the patent contentious rankings this year, Ali Associates is led by found Feroz Ali. A fellow practitioner rates him highly: "He's a brilliant guy, with a very good background in patents. I've read some papers he's written." Though only established formally in 2009, the firm has already attracted great praise from clients, with one singling Ali out: "His ability to anticipate legal proceedings on a rapidly evolving framework in India shows his deep understanding of the system and also pro-activeness, which helps pre-empt competitive strategy effectively." Another client notes: "Feroz is an expert of Indian law. He did a superb job with the opposition for us, and in the process set new patent law in India."
A high-profile case for the firm was its representation of Matrix Laboratories in a revocation proceeding before the Patent Office concerning the anti-HIV drug valganciclovir. Concluded in April 2010, the case was concluded with the successful revocation of a critical anti-HIV drug patent.
Another notable matter was the advice to Yahoo! in a writ appeal before the division bench of the Madras High Court from an order of the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB). The division bench reversed the IPAB's order, refusing to admit an appeal under section 15 of the Patents Act. It is worth noting that this is regarded as the first case granting the right to a patent applicant to appeal to the IPAB from a pre-grant opposition order rejecting its patent.