Dario A. Machleidt

Dario A. Machleidt is a partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, where he focuses on patent litigation across a diverse range of technologies. His practice encompasses cases for clients ranging from solo inventors to large corporations, and he has experience litigating in state and federal courts, as well as the International Trade Commission (ITC). While his tracked appearances list him on the plaintiff side, his notable work demonstrates a significant focus on representing operating companies in defensive postures, particularly against non-practicing entities (NPEs).

Machleidt has handled cases involving various technology areas. For example, his work for DISH Technologies LLC suggests experience with broadcast or streaming technology, while the cases for Starbucks Corporation and Valve Corporation, where he acted as Lead Counsel, point to expertise in software, consumer products, and the strategic defense against "patent trolls" by leveraging state anti-patent-troll statutes. He has also been specifically noted for his involvement in biologics and pharmaceutical patent litigation, and contributed to an ITC investigation related to "Certain Knitted Footwear."

Among his notable achievements, Machleidt was a key member of the team that secured a $20.3 million willful infringement verdict for Dr. Barry against Medtronic in the Eastern District of Texas, a result affirmed by the Federal Circuit and recognized as one of the "Top 100 Verdicts of 2016." More recently, he represented Valve Corporation in a case against Leigh Rothschild, obtaining a jury verdict that found a patent invalid and awarded Valve $159,457 due to bad-faith patent infringement assertions under Washington's Patent Troll Prevention Act. He also represented Starbucks Corporation in a declaratory judgment action against Valtrus Innovations Ltd. and Key Patent Innovations, invoking Washington's Patent Troll Prevention Act, which ultimately led to a dismissal with prejudice. Earlier in his career, he played a critical role in the pro bono patent case Bowman v. Monsanto Co., which reached the U.S. Supreme Court. No specific appearances in PTAB or IPR proceedings were reliably sourced.

Machleidt earned his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 2009 and holds a B.S. in physics from the University of Washington. He is admitted to practice in Washington. During law school, he served as a judicial extern for Judge Randall R. Rader of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.