Intellectual Property Litigation

Our team's 100+ attorneys include seasoned trial lawyers with the technical knowledge and advanced scientific degrees required to handle the full spectrum of IP disputes, including patents, trademarks, copyright, trade dress, trade secrets, and unfair competition.

We have deep experience litigating in the country's most active patent and intellectual property venues, and our successful track record keeps our clients, many of whom we have been representing for decades, coming back.

Patent Litigation: Life Sciences

For over 40 years, Venable's life sciences patent litigators have safeguarded many of the most valuable pharmaceutical innovations in the world and delivered decisive victories in high-stakes cases with billions at stake. Our relentless advocacy and deep patent knowledge have made us a trusted partner in protecting groundbreaking innovations, which is why pharmaceutical developers, biotech companies, and medical device manufacturers value our advice for their most important matters.

Patent Litigation: Technology

Accustomed to taking on the toughest challenges, we represent many of the world's technology leaders and are equally adept at both fighting for rights holders and defending accused infringers. Though we are first and foremost trial lawyers, we also make it our business to master the technology that forms the center of the dispute and have handled matters involving such cutting-edge technologies as artificial intelligence, automotive engineering, software, encryption, telecommunications, mobile devices, multimedia streaming, blockchain, and semiconductors.

Trademark, Brand, and Copyright Protection

We appreciate that brands face significant challenges from counterfeiters, competitors, and cybersquatters, to name a few. With a precise focus on all things tied to a brand's identity, including trademarks, copyrights, domain names, and trade dress, our attorneys are well equipped to analyze the threats to our clients' brand identity around the world and address vulnerabilities to protect their valuable assets and reputation.

International Trade Commission (ITC) Section 337 Investigations

Venable is one of the most active firms in the United States handling ITC Section 337 investigations. We've managed myriad legal issues, ranging from patent infringement to trade secret misappropriation and trade dress infringement. Combining this experience with their vast knowledge of complex technologies and consumer goods, our attorneys quickly assess case risks and develop an effective approach that is ready to implement once a complaint is filed.

PTO Contested Proceedings

Our attorneys have successful track records in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) proceedings, including reissues, re-exams, and interferences. We have handled PTAB proceedings in all technology areas, with experience dating back to before the advent of inter partes reviews (IPR). Venable's post-grant attorneys offer the technical knowledge, prosecution experience, and litigation skills necessary for effective advocacy before the PTAB. We are also skilled in managing interferences and derivation proceedings.

Experience
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  • The ITC Agrees
    At the International Trade Commission, the administrative law judge invalidated the patent held by a plaintiff who sought to use it to stop our client’s business. The ITC found the patent invalid on each of the bases of anticipation, obviousness, inventorship, and lack of enablement and written description. It involved next-generation smallpox vaccines developed and sold pursuant to the U.S. Government’s BioShield anti-terrorism program.
  • SCOTUS Plays Along with Our Tune
    After many appeals, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in favor of our client, an international guitar manufacturing firm, in a trademark infringement suit seeking to block competition to another manufacturer’s principal brand.
  • Most Important Trade Dress in a Decade
    Venable attorneys successfully argued Wal-Mart v. Samara Brothers before the U.S. Supreme Court. It was named the most important trade dress case litigated since 1998 (Legal Times, October 2002)
  • Copyrights Changed Forever
    In another unanimous landmark decision, the Supreme Court changed the law of copyright, siding with a Venable attorney in CCNV v. Reid
  • Stepping Into – and Calming – the Fray
    Six weeks prior to trial, Venable attorneys took over defense of a patent infringement and Lanham Act matter. Prior counsel was prohibited from using key exhibits due to discovery abuses. A two-week trial resulted in a jury verdict in favor of our client in the multi-million-dollar matter
  • Millions for a Mechanical Patent
    In U.S. District Court in Chicago, Venable obtained a verdict of more than $12 million in a mechanical patent case. The jury made a finding of willful infringement

Recognition
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  • BTI Consulting Group, Best of the Best Law Firms, IP Litigation, 2021
  • Managing Intellectual Property, 2013 – 2025
  • IAM Patent 1000, The World's Leading Patent Professionals, 2012 – 2021
  • U.S. News – Best Lawyers
    • Law Firm of the Year, Technology Law, 2017, 2022
    • Best Law Firms, Litigation – Intellectual Property (Tier 1), Washington, DC, 2012 – 2020, 2022 - 2023
    • Best Law Firms, Litigation – Intellectual Property (Tier 1), New York, 2020, 2022 – 2025
    • Best Law Firms, Litigation – Intellectual Property (Tier 2), Chicago, 2025
    • Best Law Firms, Litigation – Intellectual Property (Tier 3), Chicago, 2025
    • Best Law Firms, Litigation – Intellectual Property (Tier 3), Miami, 2025
    • Best Law Firms, Litigation – Intellectual Property (Tier 1), National, 2020, 2022 – 2025
    • Best Law Firms, Litigation – Intellectual Property (Tier 2), National, 2012 – 2019
  • Legal 500, Intellectual Property – Patents: Litigation (Full Coverage), 2014 – 2015, 2019 – 2023
  • Chambers USA, Intellectual Property: Litigation, District of Columbia, 2016