Clinton H. Brannon

Clinton H. Brannon is a skilled intellectual property litigator at Williams Mullen, focusing on patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright disputes. His practice encompasses a wide array of technologies, including chemical, electrical, software, and mechanical arts. Specific technical areas he has handled include wireless telecommunications, network security, medical devices (such as pulse oximetry), data compression, Wi-Fi, cloud computing, targeted advertising, and machine learning. He is also experienced in advising on intellectual property and data rights issues within government contracting.

While his tracked appearances are primarily on the defendant side, Clinton Brannon has significant experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in patent infringement actions. He has served as lead counsel for plaintiffs asserting patent and copyright infringement involving hyperspectral imaging technology, and has represented plaintiffs in declaratory judgment actions against non-practicing entities (NPEs). Concurrently, he frequently defends operating companies against infringement claims, having represented clients in disputes concerning beverage tracking technology, pulse oximetry, golf ball construction, and voice communication systems, with one notable defense leading to a case dismissal.

Brannon's litigation practice spans all stages of federal district court proceedings, including pre-filing investigations, claim construction, trials, and appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He also regularly engages in post-grant review (PGRs), inter partes review (IPRs), and ex parte reexaminations before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as well as Section 337 Unfair Import Investigations before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). He has been quoted in Law360 regarding PTAB decisions on IPR depositions, underscoring his involvement in these administrative proceedings.

Admitted to the Virginia State Bar, the District of Columbia Bar, and a registered patent agent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Mr. Brannon earned his J.D. (magna cum laude, Order of the Coif) and M.B.A. from the University of Alabama, and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Mississippi State University.