Patent Litigation
In today's increasingly competitive business environment, technology companies need to have strategic plans in place to vigorously protect and enforce their patent rights. Proactive companies should also seek to avoid liability for infringing the patent rights of others.
Snell & Wilmer's patent litigation team helps clients protect and leverage their patent rights, defend against the infringement claims of others, works to establish competitive marketplace position and, ultimately, provide value to owners/investors. Representing large corporations, small businesses and individuals, our attorneys have an extensive knowledge of our clients’ businesses, issues and objectives, along with significant experience litigating a wide variety of patent-related matters.
We are experienced in all phases of patent litigation, from the counseling stage through sending (or responding to) the demand letter, through Markman proceedings, discovery, trial and appeal. Our experience includes not only asserting and defending patent infringement actions, but also making effective use of the malicious prosecution and abuse of process laws to assist our clients in fighting non-manufacturing patentees. We have taken our clients through mediation and arbitration, as well as the temporary restraining order/preliminary injunction hearing process, dismissal proceedings, summary judgment, trial and appeals. We also are experienced with patent reexamination and reissue proceedings, as well as Section 337 proceedings before the International Trade Commission.
While each client's decision whether to press forward to trial depends on client- and matter-specific considerations, we have found that our clients are best served by attorneys who stand ready, willing and able to take a case to trial if necessary.
Our patent litigators include registered patent attorneys and former practicing engineers with degrees in the electrical, computer, chemical, mechanical, environmental, bioscience, systems software, civil, and other engineering and scientific disciplines. Many are admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and admitted to practice before and experienced in appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which hears all appeals in patent litigation. We also have served as adjunct law school faculty teaching patent litigation.
Our attorneys are experienced at conveying and demonstrating complex technological issues to judges and before juries. We have appeared in the courts most active in patent litigation, including the Eastern District of Texas, Eastern District of Virginia, Southern District of New York, Northern District of California, Central District of California and the Southern District of California.
The firm's patent litigators have been ranked for excellence in intellectual property litigation law, including patent litigation, by U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" publication.
We have represented clients ranging from entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies across a wide variety of industries. Our experience in disputes, large and small, enables us to effectively tailor our representation to fit each particular client’s needs. We have represented clients in matters involving a broad array of products and services, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Airborne particle detection
- Automated attendant telephone systems
- Automatic lighting systems
- Binoculars
- Cable connectors
- Computer systems
- Computer software
- Consumer products
- Controls
- Database systems
- Dental products
- Design software
- Detection systems
- Electronic payment systems
- Electrical charger systems
- EPROMs & E2PROMs
- Ethylene glycol catalysts
- Financial methods, systems and services
- Firearm accessories
- Footwear
- Fuels technology
- Hearth products
- Home furnishings
- Homeopathic remedies
- Hormone replacement methods
- Internet applications, access software and systems
- Learning systems
- Math co-processors
- Medical devices and technology
- Microprocessors
- Molten metal machinery
- Online gambling systems
- Online storage systems
- Online search methods
- Operating systems software
- Ordnance firing systems
- Payment and stored value card technology
- Personal care products
- Pesticide delivery systems
- Pharmaceutical products
- POS terminals
- Pinball games – microprocessor-controlled
- Printed circuit boards, prepregs, and laminates
- Revolving doors
- Satellite modems, upconverters & downconverters
- Semiconductor technology
- Semiconductor manufacturing methods
- Sod harvesting
- Soil additives
- Surgical smoke evacuation tools
- Voicemail systems
We also offer educational seminars and legal updates for our clients to keep them apprised of changes in patent law that may affect their businesses, including changes wrought by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act of 2011.
