Gary R. Sorden

Gary R. Sorden — Patent Litigation Practice Summary

Specialty / focus. Sorden is an IP trial lawyer whose patent work centers on standard essential patents (SEPs), wireless/telecom standards (5G, LTE, Wi-Fi), IoT, security systems, embedded systems, software, semiconductors, and RFID/electronics — with additional experience in mechanical and chemical technologies (Cole Schotz profile; E.D. Tex. Bar Association bio). He also handles patent licensing and monetization transactions, copyright, trade secret, and trademark disputes, including ITC proceedings. In the tracked docket, his matters involve Wi-Fi/5G standard-related patents (Hannibal IP v. Samsung, E.D. Tex. 2025), smart-home/security patents (Vivint v. SB IP Holdings), and validity challenges (Unified Patents v. Hannibal IP).

Side preference. The tracked appearances skew defense (4 defendant-side vs. 1 plaintiff-side), but the defense work is largely for patent owners/NPEs facing operating companies (Samsung, Vivint) and validity challengers (Unified Patents). He also has verifiable plaintiff-side enforcement work — e.g., Intellectual Tech v. Zebra Technologies (RFID patent) and Contour IP Holding v. GoPro/SZ DJI (action-cam patents, with a July 2026 Federal Circuit notice of appeal). His own profile accurately describes him as representing "both sides of the 'v.'" In the tracked data, the practical pattern is defending patent-holding entities in district court and before the PTAB.

Firm context. Sorden is a Member (partner) at Cole Schotz P.C. in Dallas, where he leads the firm's Texas IP team (Chambers Band 4, IP – Texas). He joined in April 2019 from Dallas IP boutique Klemchuk LLP (where he was a managing principal); earlier stops included Thompson & Knight, Farney Daniels, and Braxton Hilton & Perrone (Texas Lawbook; Yahoo Finance). He is a registered patent practitioner (USPTO Reg. No. 60,283), licensed in Texas since 2008.

Notable matters & PTAB/IPR. Most prominent tracked matters: defense of Hannibal IP in Samsung v. Hannibal IP (E.D. Tex., 5G/LTE/Wi-Fi SEP litigation) and Unified Patents v. Hannibal IP; and lead counsel for SB IP Holdings in Vivint Inc. v. SB IP Holdings. Web-searchable results include the Federal Circuit's reversal in Intellectual Tech v. Zebra Technologies (standing/exclusionary-rights ruling, No. 22-2207) and the Supreme Court's denial of cert (No. 24-114), plus a $9.2M jury verdict for his client DynaStudy in a copyright suit against Houston ISD. He regularly appears before the PTAB as patent-owner lead counsel in IPRs and PGRs — e.g., PGR2020-00013 (SB IP Holdings) and IPR2021-00069 (Cognipower) — consistent with his stated practice of handling IPR/PGR trials. Education: J.D., Texas Tech University School of Law (2008); M.S., Engineering Management (SMU); B.S., Computer Science (UT-Pan American).