Hilary Preston

Hilary Preston is a distinguished intellectual property litigator and Vice Chair at Vinson & Elkins LLP, where she also serves as a member of the firm's Management Committee. She has spent her entire legal career with Vinson & Elkins, joining in 2003.

Her practice primarily focuses on defending operating companies in patent infringement litigation and commercial disputes across various technologies. Based on tracked cases, she has exclusively represented defendants, including in Light Guide Innovations, LLC v. Walmart Inc., a case involving display/backlighting technology, and Maxell, Ltd. v. Lenovo Group Ltd. et al., concerning consumer electronics. Her experience spans diverse sectors such as solar cell technology, digital media, mobile content delivery, e-commerce, sports, energy, high tech, consumer goods, aerospace, computer software, medical devices, and life sciences.

Preston also provides counsel on risk management associated with technology development. While specific trial verdicts under her direct leadership are not detailed in public records, her firm's IP and technology litigation group, which she heads, is noted for handling high-stakes IP trials in federal courts, including the Eastern District of Texas, and before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The firm's IP practice includes experience before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, suggesting familiarity with post-grant proceedings like IPRs.

Hilary Preston earned her J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law in 2003 and was admitted to the New York Bar in 2004. She is also admitted to practice before several federal appellate and district courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.