Overview
Boyd Cloern is a first chair trial lawyer who focuses on intellectual property matters. Boyd's most recent trial experience includes trade secret, copyright, and patent claims, both in federal district courts and at the International Trade Commission. Boyd's IP cases have involved a wide range of technologies in various industries, including semi-conductors, automotive, LMR Radio communications systems, medical devices, smart phones, HDTV, HD Radio, and chemical flavoring. Boyd's experience also includes antitrust/competition, licensing, standards, and other issues at the intersection of IP and antitrust. Boyd also counsels clients on compliance issues related to trade secrets and competition.
For the past seven years, Boyd's practice has focused on representing international companies in US courts. Boyd has managed "bet the company" global litigation, where he coordinated the defense across numerous proceedings around the world, including in civil and criminal courts, as well as investigations and regulatory proceedings.
Legal 500 notes Boyd "engages with unique intensity on both legal and technical issues” and that he "is an extraordinarily hands-on partner. His deep engagement in both the legal and technical aspects of the matters he handles enables the kind of nimble and substantive response to litigation developments that provides an essential edge." Additionally, he "really understands trade secret law," and is "always thinking how to present the facts in the most favorable way in a trial." Finally, "he will listen carefully and then come back with the solution." Clients report that they "love to work with him so much!"
- District of Columbia
- Kentucky
- US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- US District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky
- US District Court, Southern District of Ohio
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- J.D., University of Kentucky, cum laude; Associate Editor, Kentucky Law Journal
- B.A., University of Kentucky
Areas of Work
Representative Matters
- Lead trial counsel for Chinese defendant in civil and criminal trade secret litigation in US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
- Lead counsel for Chinese smartphone defendant in patent litigation in US District Court for Eastern District of Texas.
- Lead counsel for Chinese semiconductor and electronic products group company in software license dispute in State Court of California.
- Lead counsel for Chinese company in filing patent infringement allegation against its foreign competitor in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
- Lead counsel for Chinese cell phone ODM defendant in a patent infringement case in the Southern District of Florida. The case involved 13 patents.
- Lead counsel for Chinese ODM defendant in Hong Kong International Arbitration Center involving copyright claims.
- Counsel for Chinese Steel company against antitrust and unfair competition claims in Section 337 litigation at the International Trade Commission.
- Lead counsel for German automotive company in patent litigation involving engine combustion technology in US District Court for the Central District of California.
- Lead trial counsel for Czech tire company as plaintiff in trade secret and patent infringement litigation involving self-inflating tire technology in US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
- Trial counsel for Singaporean semiconductor manufacturer as complainant in Section 337 patent infringement litigation at the International Trade Commission.
- Lead counsel for automotive supplier as plaintiff in competitor patent infringement litigation involving tire pressure monitoring systems in US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
- Counsel to German automotive supplier in licensing dispute related to standards essential patents in multiple state and federal courts.
- Lead trial counsel for automotive supplier as plaintiff in competitor patent infringement litigation involving tire pressure monitoring systems in US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and as defendant in US District Court for the Western District of Virginia.
- Counsel for Internet company in competitor patent litigation involving WiFi location services in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
- Lead counsel for tobacco flavoring company and executives in defense of trade secrets, fraud and contract claims in US District Court for the District of Maryland.
- Advised numerous companies on antitrust and intellectual property issues in connection with joint venture agreements, including antitrust compliance, drafting competitor collaboration guidelines, managing trade secret risk, drafting trade secret policies, allocating ownership of intellectual property, and related licensing issues.
- Advised numerous companies on antitrust and intellectual property issues in connection with licensing agreements.
- Advised numerous companies on antitrust and intellectual property issues relating to standards essential patents.
- Advised various companies on antitrust compliance plans and training.
- Advised numerous companies on trade secret compliance programs and policies.
- Advised on and developed MAP policies for automotive and retail companies.
- Advised on and developed competitor collaboration guidelines for various companies and industry associations.
- Advised litigation fund on risks of investments and funding agreements.
- Advising financial institution on strategic patent portfolio creation and monetization and licensing programs.
- Advised on and developed open source policies for software and automotive companies.
Pro Bono
- Lead trial counsel in defense of murder charges in front of DC parole board.
- Lead counsel for habeas corpus petition for Texas death row inmate.
- Represented numerous pro bono clients in DC’s Landlord Tenant Court.
Speaking Engagements
-
Moderator, "What’s on the Patent Landscape for 2015 and Beyond: What You Need to Know Now," 3rd Annual Patent Disputes Forum for Corporate Counsel, Costa Mesa, CA, May 20, 2015
-
Moderator, "Patent Trial Best Practices: Judge and Bar Perspectives," 3rd Annual Patent Disputes Forum for Corporate Counsel, Costa Mesa, CA, May 20, 2015
News & Publications
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives Ten Individual, Four Practice Mentions in 2025 IAM Patent 1000
June 5, 2025
Press Releases
Steptoe Ranks Highly Recommended on World IP Review's USA Trade Secrets Rankings 2024
December 3, 2024
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives Nine Individual, Four Practice Mentions in IAM Patent 1000
June 6, 2024
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives Two China Business Law Journal 2023 Deal of the Year Awards
March 20, 2024
Media Mentions
Law360 Quotes Boyd Cloern in Article About 7th Circuit’s Issue with $540M Motorola Trade Secret Win
December 5, 2023
Press Releases
September 20, 2022
Press Releases
Steptoe Secures PTAB Victory for Continental in Patent Dispute Relating to Power Transmission Belts
July 29, 2022
Events
Seminars & Events
Global Trade and Enforcement Symposium in Hong Kong
June 1, 2023
Speakers: Renato Antonini, Yongqing Bao, Brigida Benitez, Brian G. Burke, Ali Burney, Henry Cao, John Caracappa, Boyd Cloern, Robyn C. Crowther, Brian J. Fleming, Coy Garrison, Zoey Hong, Stanley C. Kuo, Amy J. Lentz, Michelle L. Levin, Patrick F. Linehan, Jamie Lucia, Alexandra Melia, Cáitrín McKiernan, Eva Monard, Darryl Nirenberg, Gwendolyn Prothro Renigar, Angus Rodger, Guy Soussan, Grace Wang, Philip R. West, Charles Whiddington, Wendy Wysong, Lin Yang, Bo Yue, Wilson Zhao
Webinars
Intellectual Property: The Legal Airbag
January 29, 2015
Speakers: John Caracappa, Boyd Cloern
Noteworthy
- Chambers USA, Band 1, Intellectual Property: Trade Secrets, Nationwide (2025)
- Lawdragon 500, Leading Litigators in America, Antitrust, IP Litigation (2023-2025)
- Law360, The Most Significant Trade Secrets Cases Of 2024 (2024)
- WIPR, USA Trade Secrets Rankings, Highly Recommended (2024)
- IAM Patent 1000, Litigation: DC Metro Area (2016-2025)
-
Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll (2024)
-
China Business Law Journal, Deal of the Year, (2023-2024)
-
The National Law Journal, Top 100 Verdicts, (2022)
- TopVerdict, Top 20 Commercial Litigation Verdicts in the United States, (2022)