Most Highly Regarded Firms: Texas 2009 - Patents
The research for this chapter has identified 31 leading practitioners in Texas from 18 firms.
Howrey LLP has an international reputation for patent work; intellectual property is one of the firm's main practice areas. John Lynch "stands out" as one of the state's most respected patent litigators. Lynch has represented clients in patent cases before the Supreme Court and has also served as a master and arbitrator in patent litigation disputes. Floyd Nation is another of the firm's stars. He has handled complex litigation in a variety of high-technology sectors, and has been lead trial counsel in a patent infringement action involving accounting methods software and lead counsel in patent infringement action regarding implantable heart defibrillators. John Norris's practice also has a focus on complex patent litigation, particularly in the fields of chemical and petrochemical technologies. He has a strong technical background in this area, having worked for five years as a chemical engineer for Exxon Research Laboratories.
McKool Smith PC is a trial firm with a focus on IP litigation and three lawyers on our list. In 2008 the firm secured a jury verdict for Texas-based Anascape over Nintendo in a complex patent infringement case involving video game controller technology. Mike McKool is one of the firm's founders and an "exceptional lawyer" in the eyes of one competitor. McKool's clients include airlines, energy companies, telecommunications firms and investment banks. Douglas Cawley is also based in Dallas and is well known among his peers as an "exceptional trial lawyer". Cawley was lead counsel for Ericsson and Sony Ericsson in global litigation relating to cellular technology. Gordon White completes the trio and manages the Austin office. White represents plaintiffs and defendants and is adept at dealing with cases that involve complex electrical technology and telecommunications, including computer hardware and software.
Texas giant Baker Botts LLP improves on last year's listing with three talented lawyers in this chapter. Bart Showalter is chair of the firm's intellectual property department. His practice places emphasis on patent litigation, procurement and licensing in the electronics, telecommunications and software construction company, major computer manufacturer and large defence contractor. Scott Partridge "stands out" as "a very good lawyer", according to our sources. Partridge is head of the intellectual property department in Houston and litigates across a variety of IP-related matters, also serving as arbitrator in patent cases. He is a former patent examiner in the US Patent and Trademark Office. Kevin Meek is the firm's deputy department head for the intellectual property section and the head of the intellectual property department in the Dallas office. He is at ease with a wide range of technologies and has litigated in federal courts around the US. Meek is a keen speaker and an adjunct professor of patent law at Southern Methodist University School of Law.
Haynes and Boone LLP appears twice in this section, and can also boast the inclusion of the chapter's most highly nominated individual, David McCombs, who is reportedly the "master" of IP law. His practice is broad but concentrates on patent procurement, litigation and licensing in the electronics, software and telecommunications industries. McCombs served as counsel to the Department of Justice in a matter involving the dissolution of patent pooling arrangement for patents on LASIK eye surgery. Donald Templin, a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates, joins him here. Templin is a "great trial lawyer" who has worked on patent matters including the representation of a software company in patent infringement suits against a number of telecommunications companies.
The Dallas office of Sidley Austin LLP, dedicated solely to IP law, is well known as a hotbed of IP talent. Dallas is home to two practitioners on our list, Bryan Medlock and James Bradley. Medlock is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and has served as special master, arbitrator, mediator and expert witness in many patent cases. He was described to researchers as "a legend in the field". The "excellent" Bradley is the managing partner of the Dallas office and has tried cases in district courts as well as before the International Trade Commission. His litigation practice focuses on patent matters and he has experience with cases covering a wide range of technologies.
Texas powerhouse Fulbright & Jaworski LLP also provides two partners for this chapter. Robert Chiaviello is "absolutely superb and he was identifed by many as someone to rely upon for any patent-related matter. He focuses on patent litigation and is experienced in the software, telecommunications, digital electronics, electro-optics, aerospace and semiconductor fields. David Parker co-heads the firm's intellectual property and technology department. Parker serves as the vice president of intellectual property at Introgen Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialisation of targeted molecular therapies for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. He has a "formidable" case history representing biopharmaceutical clients.
At Vinson & Elkins LLP, William LaFuze is co-head of the intellectual property and technical litigation section and was highlighted as "the leader" by a fellow nominee. He is a past chair of the American Bar Association's section of intellectual property law and a keen writer and speaker. Willem Schuurman is a former president of the US section of the Federation of Industrial Property Attorneys and was a popular candidate during our survey. He boasts a technical background in the chemical and chemical engineering fields but is experienced in dealing with a range of fields.
The expertise at Jones Day's patent litigation practice has been sought out by a vast array of big name clients, including Chevron, Fisher-Price and IBM. The firm performed well in the research for this edition and Hilda Galvan and Robert Turner have "stellar reputations". Galvan focuses on complex patent litigation, and has represented leading companies in critical patent cases including Motorola, Texas Instruments, Apple and Nokia. She is well known for her writing and came highly nominated by her peers. Turner is a past chairman of the intellectual property section of the State Bar of Texas and of counsel to the firm. He has experience in all areas of IP, however, it is for patent litigation that he is particularly "widely known and respected".
Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP also provides two practitioners for our list. David Healey specialises in patent trials, appeals and arbitrations and was a "certainty" for inclusion in this chapter, according to one source. He has particular experience in semiconductors, software and telecoms and has represented some of the biggest names in these areas, including Apple and Samsung Electronics. Amber Rovner joins Healey after an exceptional performance in this year's research. Rovner has represented Intel, 3M, Ericsson and Rockwell, among others, in patent litigation disputes in federal district and appellate courts across the US.
Margaret Boulware from Baker & McKenzie LLP is "deserving of her fantastic reputation" - Boulware tried the first validity and infringement arbitration of a US patent, which was heard before the International Chamber of Commerce. She also features in our chapter on trademark lawyers. Her patent practice, however, places particular emphasis on the chemistry and biotechnology fields. Jerry Selinger from Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP is widely regarded as "one of the top guys" for patent litigation. His patent practice sees him appearing a great deal before the Federal Circuit in appellate matters as well as trying cases in federal and state courts. Selinger is "extremelly good at what he does" and can turn his hand to matters within a wide variety of technical disciplines.
Mayer Brown LLP's Sharon Israel also made her mark on the research, impressing clients and peers with her "unsurpassed dedication" and "infinite knowledge".
Her IP practice has a focus on patent litigation, counselling and opinion work, which sees Israel working on matters ranging from videoconferencing technology to chemical compositions. "Everybody knows and likes Pete Peterson" from Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated. San Antonio-based Peterson is a "very talented lawyer", according to one source and has numerous appointments as a special master under his belt. He also serves as division head for the American Bar Association, intellectual property law section.
Andrew Dillon is managing partner of Dillon & Yudell LLP, a specialised IP firm in Austin. Dillon is a former voting member of the patent public advisory committee of the United States Patent Office and is a frequent speaker and writer in the patents area. His clients include IBM and Nortel Networks, among other large firms, as well as small companies and individual inventors. Greenberg Traurig LLP features in this chapter thanks to the Dallas office's IP practice group chair, Eric Buether. Buether was described to researchers as "the real deal" and past experience includes large media and telecommunications companies.
The "senior and well respected" Bruce Sostek heads Thompson & Knight LLP's intellectual property practice. IP boutique Wong Cabello Lutsch Rutherford & Brucculeri LLP is home to Russell Wong. Wong has in-house experience as associate general counsel and chief IP counsel of Compaq Computers and clients range from software start-ups to multinational corporations.
Bob McAughan from Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP and Ted Lee from Gunn & Lee PC are new additions this year. McAughan has a "good reputation" and heads the firm's intellectual property litigation section. His peers hailed him as a "very good choice". Lee also came highly recommended during the research and is said to be a "true leader" and the "person to have in your corner, no doubt". Lee began his career as a patent agent for the National Aeronautics & Space Administration, working on the Saturn Apollo programme.