William R. Poynter

William Poynter is the co-chair of the Intellectual Property Litigation practice at Williams Mullen, and the vice-chair of the Intellectual Property Section. He focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation, including patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, in addition to contractual disputes involving large-scale software development, implementation and maintenance agreements. Mr. Poynter’s practice also includes general complex commercial litigation matters, and he has extensive experience with electronic discovery issues.

William Poynter is the co-chair of the Intellectual Property Litigation practice at Williams Mullen, and the vice-chair of the Intellectual Property Section. He focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation, including patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, in addition to contractual disputes involving large-scale software development, implementation and maintenance agreements. Mr. Poynter’s practice also includes general complex commercial litigation matters, and he has extensive experience with electronic discovery issues.

Mr. Poynter has litigated cases involving a variety of technologies, including software, business methods, telecommunications technology, mechanical devices, chemical compositions, and electrical technology. He has litigated cases around the country, including in popular patent litigation jurisdictions such as the Central and Northern Districts of California, the Eastern District of Texas, and the District of Delaware. Mr. Poynter has extensive experience litigating patent and other intellectual property cases in the Eastern District of Virginia, also known as the “Rocket Docket,” and has litigated intellectual property cases in the Alexandria, Richmond, and Norfolk Divisions of the EDVA, as both lead and local counsel. In addition to his work on behalf of clients involving claims brought by non-practicing entities, Mr. Poynter has substantial experience representing clients either bringing intellectual property claims against, or defending against intellectual property claims brought by, direct competitors, and the attendant considerations and factors that direct competition brings to bear in those litigation matters.

In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Poynter maintains an active transactional intellectual property practice as well, including trademark prosecution; patent, trademark, copyright, and software licensing; intellectual property evaluation; strategic portfolio creation and enforcement; and domain name disputes and UDRP proceedings.

Before joining Williams Mullen, Mr. Poynter served as a law clerk to the Honorable Alvin A. Schall, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Washington, D.C. Prior to his clerkship, Mr. Poynter was a litigation associate in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Poynter is a member of the American Bar Association’s Intellectual Property Division, the American Intellectual Property Law Association, and the Federal Circuit Bar Association.

Mr. Poynter serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Opera. He has been named as one of Virginia’s “Legal Elite” by Virginia Business magazine, and as a "Rising Star" for intellectual property litigation by Virginia Super Lawyers magazine. In 2010, Inside Business named Mr. Poynter to its list of the Hampton Roads "Top 40 Under 40."

He earned his undergraduate degrees from Washington & Lee University in 1998, a bachelor of science in chemistry and a bachelor of arts in medieval and renaissance studies, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa.  He earned his juris doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2002.

Representative Litigation Experience
• Defending national telecommunications company against claims of utility patent infringement asserted by a Virginia-based patent holding company relating to wireless email communications.
• Representing fitness equipment manufacturer bringing claims of utility patent infringement, trademark infringement, and theft of trade secrets against direct competitor.
• Defended manufacturer of ballistic products against claims of utility patent infringement, breach of contract, and unfair trade practices.
• Represented manufacturer of pool toys bringing claims of design patent and trade dress infringement against direct competitor.
• Defended manufacturer of outdoor patio furniture made of synthetic wicker against utility patent infringement claims by direct competitor relating to shape and construction of artificial wicker.
• Defended international manufacturer of paper products against allegations by direct competitor of trademark and trade dress infringement related to bath tissue design and construction.
• Represented large insurance carrier in breach of contract arbitration against an international software developer over an enterprise-wide software development and implementation project.
• Defended national discount retailer against claim of utility patent infringement brought by non-practicing entity involving retail checkout business method.
• Defended software provider against claim of utility patent infringement brought by non-practicing entity involving supply chain management software.
• Represented celebrity in suit for false endorsement under the Lanham Act and for violations of Virginia right of publicity statute, in a case which raised a number of issues of first impression in the Fourth Circuit.
• Defended furniture importer against allegations of design patent infringement.
• Defended manufacturer of outdoor patio furniture in patent license arbitration.
• Defended national discount retailer against claims of design and utility patent, trade dress, and copyright infringement relating to the operation, shape, and ornamentation of paper punches.
• Assisted in the defense of national discount retailer against claims of utility patent, trademark, and trade dress infringement relating to miniature flashlights.
• Substantial experience on behalf of numerous clients in opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
• Extensive experience with eDiscovery issues that arise in complex commercial litigation, including international electronic data preservation and collection efforts.