Brian Ledahl

Brian Ledahl is a partner at Russ August & Kabat, specializing in high-technology patent litigation with a focus on plaintiff-side representation. His practice primarily involves representing patent owners in infringement actions against major operating companies. He also handles other intellectual property matters, including copyright and trade secret litigation, and has experience with entertainment litigation.

Ledahl's case history, which shows seven tracked appearances all on the plaintiff side, underscores his dedication to prosecuting patent infringement claims. He has been a key member of trial teams that secured substantial jury verdicts, including a $175 million verdict against Verizon Communications related to data saving technology and a $279 million verdict (totaling $340 million with prejudgment interest) against Samsung on patents concerning wireless push messaging technology for Headwater Research LLC. The firm's intellectual property practice explicitly emphasizes plaintiff's patent infringement litigation. Headwater Research LLC is identified as a non-practicing entity (NPE) or patent asserter in several of these cases, indicating Ledahl's experience representing such entities.

Notable cases where Ledahl has served as counsel or lead counsel include Headwater Research LLC v. Verizon Communications Inc. et al., Headwater Research LLC v. Apple Inc., and Headwater Research LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. The Headwater v. Apple case settled via a joint dismissal with prejudice, suggesting a confidential settlement. Ledahl has also successfully represented clients in appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, including arguing a successful claim construction reversal against Google and others in 2016. Over his career, he has contributed to clients recovering over $1.5 billion in judgments and settlements.

Ledahl has experience in inter partes review (IPR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). He has appeared pro hac vice in multiple IPRs, including cases for Future Link Systems, LLC and Longitude Flash Memory Solutions, Ltd., demonstrating his involvement in post-grant patent challenges.

Prior to joining Russ August & Kabat in 2013, Ledahl was a lawyer at Irell & Manella LLP from 1996 to 2013, where he was a member of the Intellectual Property and Litigation workgroups. He earned his J.D. in 1996 from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and his Bachelor's Degree in 1993 from Columbia University. He is admitted to practice in California.