Bradley Gayton

Bradley Gayton's patent litigation practice primarily centers on in-house defense and strategic intellectual property management for operating companies, particularly within the automotive sector. His experience reflects a focus on disputes involving complex technology relevant to vehicle systems.

During his tenure as Group Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, and General Counsel at Ford Motor Company, Gayton oversaw the company's litigation and intellectual property efforts. In this capacity, he engaged in both plaintiff and defendant roles for Ford, as demonstrated by the cases involving Ford Motor Company v. AutoConnect Holdings LLC. These disputes specifically concerned patents related to automotive infotainment systems.

Gayton's practice also includes significant experience with post-grant proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Ford initiated multiple Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings challenging patents asserted by AutoConnect Holdings LLC, many of which were instituted. Notably, a Director Review decision in one such IPR (IPR2025-01342) was designated as informative by the USPTO, vacating institution due to the petitioner's inconsistent claim construction arguments between district court and the Board. This highlights his strategic involvement in challenging patent validity through PTAB proceedings.

Bradley Gayton earned both his bachelor of science degree in business administration and his law degree from the University at Buffalo. After a long career at Ford, he was appointed Senior Vice President and General Counsel of The Coca-Cola Company in July 2020, a position from which he later resigned in 2021.