Daniel A. Taylor

Daniel A. Taylor is a Partner at Smith, Katzenstein & Jenkins LLP, focusing on intellectual property litigation, primarily serving as local counsel in the District of Delaware. His practice spans a range of technologies, including automotive systems, vehicle computer control, infotainment, computer hardware and software, and telecommunications. With a background as a patent agent for a semiconductor manufacturer and experience prosecuting patent applications for computing and networking technologies, he brings a solid technical understanding to his litigation work.

Mr. Taylor consistently represents defendants in patent infringement cases, as evidenced by his role as local counsel for Ford Motor Company in all tracked appearances. While his firm, Smith, Katzenstein & Jenkins LLP, handles both plaintiff and defendant-side IP litigation, his current publicly tracked work places him on the defense side.

A prominent aspect of his practice includes the AutoConnect Holdings LLC v. Ford Motor Co. cases, which involve patent infringement claims concerning automotive technologies and vehicle control systems. In related proceedings, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) instituted inter partes reviews (IPRs) against patents asserted by AutoConnect Holdings. Notably, in May 2026, the USPTO Director designated an informative decision in Ford Motor Co. v. AutoConnect Holdings, LLC (IPR2025-01342), vacating institution due to the petitioner's inconsistent claim construction arguments in district court. Although his firm acts as Delaware counsel, these PTAB developments are directly relevant to the district court matters he handles. Mr. Taylor has also moderated discussions on patent litigation funding.

Mr. Taylor earned his B.S. in Engineering Mechanics from Johns Hopkins University in 1991 and his J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Maine School of Law in 2015. He is admitted to practice in Delaware, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, and before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Prior to joining Smith, Katzenstein & Jenkins, he gained valuable experience through five years as a judicial law clerk in the District of Delaware, including for the Honorable Sue L. Robinson and Chief Magistrate Judge Mary Pat Thynge.