At Williams Mullen, we enforce and protect our clients' valuable products and brands in infringement and enforcement disputes in federal and state court, before the International Trade Commission (ITC) and in post-grant proceedings, including Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings, before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). We also frequently represent clients in the Eastern District of Virginia and in other preferred venues for IP disputes, including the District of Delaware and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Our patent litigation team, comprised of highly experienced litigation and technical attorneys, has represented clients in matters related to computer software and hardware, telecommunications, biologics & pharmaceuticals, mechanical technologies, consumer products and chemical arts.
At Williams Mullen, we enforce and protect our clients' valuable products and brands in infringement and enforcement disputes in federal and state court, before the International Trade Commission (ITC) and in post-grant proceedings, including Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings, before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). We also frequently represent clients in the Eastern District of Virginia and in other preferred venues for IP disputes, including the District of Delaware and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Our patent litigation team, comprised of highly experienced litigation and technical attorneys, has represented clients in matters related to computer software and hardware, telecommunications, biologics & pharmaceuticals, mechanical technologies, consumer products and chemical arts. We take a strategic and practical approach to each matter in pursuing our clients’ goals in complex and high-stakes cases.
A Team of IP Law and IP Litigation Experts
Our team’s abilities in particular areas of intellectual property law are complemented by the breadth of our knowledge and experience in franchise and licensing matters; bankruptcy law; and trade secret, antitrust, defamation, conspiracy and unfair competition claims and matters before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Our experience and capabilities include substantial engagements in the following areas:
- Patent, trademark and copyright infringement litigation.
- Trade secret misappropriation and unfair competition litigation.
- Antitrust and unfair trade practices litigation.
- Section 337 trade litigation before the International Trade Commission.
- AIA and Inter Partes Review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
- Inter partes proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
- State and federal court litigation involving claims of breach of technology contracts and engagements.
- Ex parte patent reexaminations before the USPTO.
- Ex parte appeals from decisions of the USPTO.
A Creative, Effective Approach to IP Litigation Strategies
Williams Mullen IP attorneys design creative and effective litigation strategies that meet our clients’ business goals while also protecting their proprietary technology and rights. Whatever the engagement, our goal is the same — to understand our client’s needs and goals fully; to evaluate and advise our clients with respect to relevant litigation decisions and their implications; and to assist our clients in developing and implementing creative strategies to meet those needs and goals in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
AIA and Inter Partes Review Proceedings
Our attorneys have represented both patent owners and petitioners throughout all stages of inter partes reviews before the PTAB. Our experience includes preparing petitions and patent owner statements, conducting document discovery, taking/defending depositions, addressing motions to amend, handling hearings before the PTAB, filing and responding to requests for reconsideration and representing parties on appeal to the Federal Circuit. In addition, we have extensive experience addressing complex issues concerning privity and the joinder of multiple parties and proceedings. We have represented clients before the PTAB in technologies including medical devices, mechanical technologies, optical fibers, graphics processing units (GPUs), targeted online advertising, cloud-based file storage, audio codecs and network communications.
News
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11.05.2020
Williams Mullen Nationally Ranked in Practice Areas by U.S. News – Best Lawyers ‘Best Law Firms’ 2021
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08.20.2020
116 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©; Most Total Lawyers in Virginia
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05.07.2020
35 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2020 Virginia Super Lawyers List; 13 Named 2020 Rising Stars
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04.24.2020
Supreme Court in Romag v. Fossil Finds Willfulness Not Required for Trademark Profits
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11.07.2019
Williams Mullen Nationally Ranked in 13 Practice Areas by U.S. News – Best Lawyers ‘Best Law Firms’ 2020
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10.17.2019
PTAB Designates as Informative Two Decisions Regarding Examiners’ Use of “Design Choice” Rationale
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09.09.2019
Clint Brannon Discusses PTAB's Decision on IPR Depositions with Law360
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08.30.2019
Rob Van Arnam and Drew Shores Write About Copyright Protection in Video Games for DRI
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08.15.2019
15 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named "Lawyers of the Year" by Best Lawyers®
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07.12.2019
PTAB Designates as Precedential 2014 Decision Governing Communications with Counsel During Deposition
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06.17.2019
Supreme Court Holds that Government Agencies May Not Use AIA Proceedings to Challenge Patents
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05.03.2019
Williams Mullen Expands Intellectual Property Section with Ed White and Janet Cho
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04.25.2019
30 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 12 Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA 2019
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04.10.2019
47 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2019 Virginia Super Lawyers List; 17 Named 2019 Rising Stars
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02.05.2019
11 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2019 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Keith Kapp and Elizabeth Scott Named to Top Lists
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12.06.2018
Williams Mullen Adds Dr. Doug Tsao to Intellectual Property Team
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11.12.2018
Amy Pruett Discusses Songwriter Association's Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
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11.01.2018
Williams Mullen Ranked Nationally in 15 Practice Areas by U.S. News – Best Lawyers 'Best Law Firms' 2019
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10.09.2018
Williams Mullen Adds Patent Attorney Clint Brannon to Intellectual Property Practice
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08.15.2018
110 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in Latest Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
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04.18.2018
53 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2018 Virginia Super Lawyers List; 20 Named 2018 Rising Stars
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04.18.2018
Williams Mullen Welcomes Intellectual Property Associate Janet Smith
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11.01.2017
Williams Mullen Ranked Nationally in 14 Practice Areas by U.S. News – Best Lawyers’ “Best Law Firms” 2018
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10.30.2017
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) – Designate Your Agent.
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10.04.2017
Williams Mullen’s Litigation Practice Recognized in 2018 Edition of Benchmark Litigation
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08.14.2017
Nine Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2018 ‘Lawyers of the Year’ by The Best Lawyers in America
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08.14.2017
114 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2018
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05.24.2017
Back to the Future: Supreme Court Narrows Patent Venue in TC Heartland Case and Returns Dispute to State of Incorporation or Where Defendant Has Regular and Established Place of Business
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04.14.2017
54 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2017 Virginia Super Lawyers List; 21 Named 2017 Rising Stars
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08.15.2016
Nine Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2017 ‘Lawyers of the Year’ by Best Lawyers®
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08.15.2016
100 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2017 Best Lawyers in America
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02.17.2016
56 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2016 Virginia Super Lawyers; 22 Named 2016 Rising Stars
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12.28.2015
Federal Circuit Rules Lanham Act Prohibition on “Disparaging” Trademarks is Unconstitutional, but The Slants Case is No Guaranteed Win for the Redskins
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10.19.2015
Williams Mullen’s Litigation Practice Honored by Benchmark Litigation
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08.17.2015
106 Williams Mullen Attorneys named 2016 Best Lawyers in America
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06.30.2015
Cybersecurity Standards Apply to Thee, Not Me
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04.28.2015
Fourth Circuit Cleans Up Damages Award in Paper Towel Dispute and Sets Standard for the Award of Fees in Trademark Cases
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01.27.2015
Supreme Court Cuts Out a Slice of the Federal Circuit’s De Novo Pie
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04.04.2014
Supreme Court Agrees to Take Case Assessing Scope of Review for Claim Construction
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03.28.2014
Supreme Court Clarifies Standing For False Advertising Claims Under The Lanham Act
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08.27.2013
Patrick Hanes discusses "Strange" craft beer lawsuit in Richmond BizSense
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08.16.2013
100 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2014 Best Lawyers in America
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09.07.2012
Trolling In Financial Waters: The Increasing Threat of Patent Infringement Lawsuits by Trolls in the Financial Services Industry
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08.08.2012
Rob Van Arnam Quoted in Law360 Article About Patent Trolls
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08.07.2012
A New Patent Shield? House Bill Introduces “Anti-Patent Troll” Legislation
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04.20.2012
4th Circuit Upholds Convictions of Trademark Infringers for Combining Two Separate “Burberry” Marks on Bogus Luxury Goods
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02.16.2012
Will Federal Circuit’s Model Order in Patent Cases Solve the eDiscovery “Problem”?
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12.05.2011
Battle Plans: Patents in the Financial Services Industry
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09.15.2011
The Joinder Provision in the Patent Reform Act: Leveling the Playing Field Against Multi-Defendant NPE Suits
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09.15.2011
Planning for the First to File
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08.31.2011
Avoiding Contempt: Responding to Non-Party Subpoenas
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08.29.2011
eXXXamining Your Brand: Sunrise Period for Trademark Owners to Prevent From Becoming .XXX Domains Starts September 7, 2011
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06.23.2011
ICANN Makes Hundreds of New gTLDs Available as of 2012
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05.26.2011
Walker Digital Enters the Game: Recent Trend of Patent Infringement Suits Against Activision, Blizzard, Microsoft, Electronic Arts and other Video Game Companies
Events
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11.20.2020
CLE Institute 2020
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10.22.2020
CLE Institute - Can They Own That? A Summary of the Biggest Patent and Trademark Cases and Trends of 2020.
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09.26.2019
CLE Day
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06.12.2018
Craft Beer and its Intersection with Intellectual Property
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09.08.2017
The Company is Born: How to Protect Your Start-Up at Start-Up
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06.14.2016
Business to Business Litigation: Preventing, Prosecuting, and Defending Claims of Unfair Competition, Misappropriation of Trade Secrets, False Advertising, False Designation of Origin, and Business Torts
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09.18.2015
Guarding the Company Jewels: Data Security & Privacy, IP and Reputation Management
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10.04.2013
High Stakes Intellectual Property Litigation – Protecting Your Brand
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09.26.2013
Protecting Your Brand
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Thomas F. Bergert
Partner- Phone:434.951.5710
- Email:Email
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Clinton H. "Clint" Brannon
Partner- Phone:703.760.5226
- Email:Email
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Janet W. Cho
Partner- Phone:804.420.6339
- Email:Email
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William F. "Bill" Devine
Partner- Phone:434.951.5717
- Email:Email
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Patrick R. Hanes
Partner- Phone:804.420.6455
- Email:Email
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Richard T. "Rick" Matthews
Partner- Phone:919.981.4070
- Email:Email
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Craig L. Mytelka
Partner- Phone:757.473.5336
- Email:Email
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Amy G. Pruett
Partner- Phone:434.951.5720
- Email:Email
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Andrew R. "Drew" Shores
Senior Associate- Phone:919.981.4015
- Email:Email
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Janet M. Smith
Associate- Phone:804.420.6212
- Email:Email
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Dr. Douglas C. Tsao
Associate- Phone:919.981.4012
- Email:Email
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Robert Van Arnam
Partner- Phone:919.981.4055
- Email:Email
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Edward T. White
Partner- Phone:804.420.6338
- Email:Email