Snell & Wilmer and Six Partners Recognized in the 2024 IAM Patent 1000 Guide

PHOENIX – Snell & Wilmer is pleased to share that the firm and six of its partners were recognized in the 2024 IAM Patent 1000 guide. The guide recognized the firm’s Arizona and California patent practices. Additionally, the guide named six partners to its list of the “World’s Leading Patent Professionals,” including: Christopher D. Bright, R. Lee Fraley, David G. Barker, Charles F. Hauff, Howard I. Sobelman, and Ketan S. Vakil.

According to the publication, the IAM Patent 1000 is the definitive resource for identifying top patent professionals and firm-wide private practice patent expertise in key jurisdictions around the globe. 

Bright has over 20 years of experience litigating patent cases for clients across the United States, as well as providing counseling for global patent licensing negotiations and patent due diligence for mergers and acquisitions. Drawing upon his deep scientific experience, degree in physics, and talent for simplifying complex concepts, he has skillfully tried numerous patent cases in U.S. federal district courts and before the International Trade Commission (ITC). Bright also frequently appears before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in inter partes reviews (IPRs) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. 

Fraley offers clients a unique blend of intellectual property counseling, IP rights enforcement and defense, and solution-focused negotiation of IP-related transactions and acquisitions. He has counseled clients worldwide, from emerging and growing businesses to middle-market and large cap companies. His practice involves assisting clients in the development of patent, copyright, trade secret and trademark portfolios geared toward accomplishing their business goals and objectives, including the licensing and commercial exploitation in the areas of semiconductors, medical devices, software including SaaS/PaaS, telecommunication, IT and cloud-based networking and services, crowd-sourcing applications, gaming, retail/franchising, sports and entertainment, music, renewable energy, unmanned and other autonomous vehicles, cannabis/CBD, and media law.

Barker is a registered patent attorney and has prosecuted patent, trademark, and copyright applications. He has counseled clients regarding intellectual property portfolio development and strategy, and has experience in licensing, business transactions, due diligence, and clearance, infringement, validity, and patentability analyses. Barker has litigated intellectual property and other complex business disputes for over 10 years, and his experience trying cases and helping clients secure and protect intellectual property rights gives him perspective in supporting different business objectives. While those objectives can require extended litigation, they are often met through negotiated resolution and settlement. Barker helps clients craft approaches that make the most business sense. 

Hauff is one of the founders of the intellectual property group at Snell and Wilmer, and practices in all aspects of IP including, litigation, prosecution, licensing, and other business transactions. He has technical experience in, among other fields, the chemical, biotechnical, mechanical, electromechanical, computer software, medical products, acoustics, and life sciences disciplines. Hauff has handled a variety of litigation matters for clients of varying sizes both in the United States and abroad. In addition, he has worked with a number of technology clients to develop creative strategies for protecting globally innovative technology from exercise and other mechanical devices to cutting-edge medical products and pharmaceuticals.

Sobelman's practice is concentrated in intellectual property law, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, licensing, and due diligence. His practice includes blockchain technologies, big data, software, hardware, internet, business methods, aerospace, solar tracking, financial services, financial planning, insurance products, medical products, mechanical, biotechnology, fiber optics, holography, and various other technologies. In addition, Sobelman has worked with a number of clients to develop creative global protection strategies for procuring substantial patent portfolios for his clients.

Vakil is co-chair of the firm's intellectual property group. He counsels clients on matters related to intellectual property protection, litigation, counseling, and licensing including the procurement and litigation of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. He has significant experience in preparing and prosecuting patents and trademarks, evaluating prior art for patentability, infringement, and validity, preparing infringement and validity opinions, and counseling clients on intellectual property strategies, development, licensing, and infringement. He has also been lead counsel on several Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

Snell & Wilmer's intellectual property attorneys regularly assist clients with their patent drafting and patent prosecution needs, as well as their intellectual property litigation needs. Our patent attorneys work closely with our clients to develop strong patent applications and effective patent strategies, and to help them create and manage sophisticated and defensible patent portfolios that support their primary business objectives. Our patent litigators help clients protect and leverage their patent rights, defend against the infringement claims of others, work to establish a competitive marketplace position and, ultimately, provide value to owners/investors. 

About Snell & Wilmer 
Founded in 1938, Snell & Wilmer is a full-service business law firm with more than 500 attorneys practicing in 16 locations throughout the United States and in Mexico, including Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, California; Denver, Colorado; Washington, D.C.; Boise, Idaho; Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Portland, Oregon; Dallas, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Seattle, Washington; and Los Cabos, Mexico. The firm represents clients ranging from large, publicly traded corporations to small businesses, individuals, and entrepreneurs. For more information, visit swlaw.com.