Charles S. Baker

Charles S. Baker is a highly experienced patent litigator with a practice focused on complex intellectual property and commercial litigation matters. He is currently a partner at Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders, often referred to as Troutman Pepper Locke, and is based in Houston, Texas. His technological expertise spans various high-tech sectors, including computer hardware and software, telecommunications, Internet, VoIP, data storage, and networking industries. He also has significant experience with clients in the oilfield services sector, including equipment manufacturers and service providers.

Baker’s practice involves both prosecuting and defending intellectual property claims. While his tracked case appearances show a strong plaintiff-side emphasis with six cases, primarily representing Cerence Operating Company in patent infringement actions against Amazon.com, Inc. et al. related to conversational AI and voice technology, his broader experience includes defense work. He successfully defended a leading manufacturer of downhole tools accused of infringing patents, securing summary judgment on one patent and a jury verdict of non-infringement on the other, where the plaintiff sought over $30 million. He has also served as lead counsel for an oilfield services company asserting eight patents, which settled after claim construction.

Beyond patent matters, Baker handles trademark, trade dress, copyright infringement, trade secret, and unfair competition cases. He is recognized for representing the lead defendant in the landmark MGM v. Grokster copyright infringement case. His procedural experience includes nearly half a dozen intellectual property cases before the International Trade Commission (ITC), but specific appearances in IPR/PGR proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) are not explicitly detailed in his professional profiles. Before joining Troutman Pepper, he led the Houston IP litigation group at Locke Lord, having previously been a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright.

Baker was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1985. He earned his J.D., with honors, from South Texas College of Law Houston in 1985, and a B.B.A., with honors, from The University of Texas at Austin in 1982.