J. Wesley "Wes" Hill

J. Wesley "Wes" Hill is a highly experienced trial lawyer specializing in intellectual property and patent litigation, particularly active in the Eastern District of Texas. His practice encompasses a broad range of technologies, including software registration systems, high-speed satellite communications, targeted cancer treatment, and telecommunications infrastructure. While the tracked cases show an appearance as local counsel for a plaintiff, his broader career demonstrates a balanced approach, having served as counsel of record in over 1100 cases split nearly evenly between plaintiff and defense clients, securing multi-million dollar verdicts for plaintiffs and defense wins.

Mr. Hill was a name partner at Ward, Smith & Hill, PLLC, a firm renowned for its work in high-stakes intellectual property trials and its deep understanding of the Eastern District of Texas judiciary. Prior to this, he was a trial lawyer at Ireland, Carroll & Kelley, PC, and served as a law clerk to former U.S. District Judge T. John Ward. Effective October 1, 2024, Mr. Hill transitioned from active trial practice, now focusing on mediation and dispute resolution through J. Wesley Hill, P.C.

Throughout his career, Mr. Hill has been involved in numerous significant patent litigation matters. He was local counsel in Uniloc USA, Inc. v. McAfee, Inc., which is related to Uniloc USA, Inc. v. Microsoft Corp., a case involving software product activation where a jury initially awarded $388 million in damages. He also secured a $21.1 million patent infringement verdict (affirmed for $26.8 million on appeal) for Elbit Systems Ltd. against Hughes Network Systems LLC, concerning high-speed satellite communications. Other notable outcomes include a $41.8 million verdict for Seagen Inc. in a pharmaceutical patent case involving cancer treatment technology, and a $31.5 million verdict for Koninklijke KPN N.V. against Ericsson over telecommunications infrastructure patents. Mr. Hill was also part of the team that secured a $502.8 million patent infringement win for VirnetX against Apple Inc. No regular appearances in PTAB or IPR proceedings were reliably found.

Mr. Hill is admitted to the State Bar of Texas and is board certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He earned his J.D. from Texas Tech University in 2001 and his B.A. from The University of Texas at Tyler in 1998.