Profile: William L LaFuze

Patents

Biography: Patents

Bill LaFuze is a partner in the intellectual property law practice group at Vinson & Elkins. He practises in substantially all areas of intellectual property law, with an emphasis on patent litigation in the electronics, oilfield equipment and computer-related fields.

He has extensive experience in Markman hearings, pre-trial, trial and appeals in patent and other intellectual property cases, including cases in the popular Eastern District of Texas.

Mr LaFuze has been ranked both nationally and regionally for many years as one of the leading intellectual property lawyers in Texas and in the US by peer review publications, and has also been recognised internationally for his skill, experience and expertise. For example, he has been listed for intellectual property law in Chambers Global, Chambers USA (tied for leading individual attorney in intellectual property law in Texas), The Best Lawyers in America, Euromoney Guide to Patent Law Experts, and "Texas Super Lawyer" in intellectual property litigation, in Texas Monthly.

Bill recently completed his term as chair of the American Bar Association's intellectual property law section. He has also served as president of the American Intellectual Property Law Association.

He was appointed by the secretary of commerce to serve as a member of the patent public advisory committee at the US Patent and Trademark Office for a three-year term, which ended in 2004.

Mr LaFuze received his BS in Physics from the University of Texas in 1969, an MS in Applied Science from Southern Methodist University in 1971, and a JD from the University of Texas School of Law in 1973.

He has written more than 100 articles dealing with intellectual property law and commercial litigation.