James R. Hannah

James R. Hannah is a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, where he is an internationally recognized patent litigator focused on high-stakes technology disputes. His practice centers on complex areas such as cybersecurity, networking technology, computer processors, and streaming software. The provided case data shows he has recently represented clients including Intent IQ and Centripetal Networks.

Based on his tracked cases, which show a 3-to-2 ratio of plaintiff-to-defendant appearances, Hannah has a notable practice representing patent holders. He has served as lead counsel for plaintiffs in significant enforcement actions. His firm's biography highlights his track record in securing landmark victories for technology companies, including obtaining the largest patent judgment in U.S. history for Centripetal Networks in its case against Cisco Systems. More recently, he was part of the trial team that secured a $151.5 million jury verdict for Centripetal against Palo Alto Networks in January 2024.

Hannah is a partner based in the Silicon Valley office of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, which was formed by the June 2025 merger of Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel and Herbert Smith Freehills. All of his tracked appearances are under the Kramer Levin name prior to the merger. He is also a leading practitioner in post-grant proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), with his firm profile noting he has "successfully prosecuted and defended hundreds of IPR trials" and built one of the most winning records in the country.

He received his J.D. with honors from Golden Gate University School of Law and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, San Diego. He is admitted to the bars of California, the District of Columbia, and New York, and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.