Patent Litigation

Steptoe's patent litigation practice is consistently recognized as one of the nation's best by Intellectual Asset Magazine (IAM), Chambers, and Legal 500. These accolades are due in large part to our ability to leverage Steptoe’s traditional strength in litigation as we provide substantive and nuanced insight into the technological issues in dispute.

As seasoned litigators, we understand how to prepare a case for trial to best achieve our client's business objectives—whether a client is a Fortune 500 corporation, midsize company, or emerging high-tech venture. Our expertise enables us to put our clients in a strong position to achieve the most favorable result at trial, through summary judgment, or negotiations. Clients benefit from our deep experience at the trial level, at appeal, at arbitration venues throughout the world, and in front of various regulatory bodies, including:

• Every significant patent jurisdiction in the country, including US district courts, the International Trade Commission (ITC), and the Federal Circuit 
• The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
• The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) in the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

Our team includes lawyers and technology specialists who have PhDs, masters, and bachelor’s degrees in biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science to better present the often complex intricacies of the technologies at issue in a form that any judge or jury can understand when pursuing an informed and correct judgment.

Perhaps most importantly, we understand that while patent litigation is vital to protecting intellectual property, it is inherently unpredictable and can be an expensive proposition. Because accurate budgeting, responsiveness, and efficiency are imperative, we approach matters with a cost-optimization mindset, using lean staffing and cross-office collaboration to produce the most effective and efficient litigation teams.