John C. O'Quinn

John C. O'Quinn is a highly experienced patent litigator with a focus on complex intellectual property disputes at both the trial and appellate levels. His practice encompasses a broad range of technologies, including continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGM), machine vision and bar code technology, and voice recognition/AI. He has also handled cases involving software and mobile device location tracking.

O'Quinn demonstrates a balanced approach to patent litigation, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. His tracked cases show an equal number of appearances on both sides (4 plaintiff-side, 4 defendant-side), indicating versatility in his practice. He has primarily practiced with Kirkland & Ellis, where he is currently a partner, and has also appeared in cases for Sidley Austin and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan.

Throughout his career, O'Quinn has been involved in several notable cases. He served as lead counsel for Symbol Technologies, Inc. in a significant case against Lemelson Medical, Education & Research Foundation, LP, where the court found Lemelson's bar code and machine vision patents unenforceable due to prosecution laches and invalid for lack of enablement, a substantial victory for Symbol and other technology companies. More recently, he acted as lead counsel for Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. in patent infringement litigation against Dexcom, Inc. concerning continuous glucose monitoring systems. While the overall dispute between Abbott and Dexcom has settled, O'Quinn was involved in an appeal where the England & Wales Court of Appeal reversed a revocation of an Abbott patent, a rare occurrence. On the defense side, he represented Uber Technologies, Inc. in Uber Technologies, Inc. v. X One, Inc., where the Federal Circuit reversed a PTAB decision, finding claims related to mobile device location tracking obvious. He also represented Apple Inc. as Lead Counsel in HBCU Messaging US LP v. Apple Inc.. O'Quinn's experience extends to IPR/PTAB proceedings, as evidenced by his involvement in Radiant Patents LLC v. Nokia Corporation et al. and Uber Technologies, Inc. v. X One, Inc., and Google LLC v. SoundClear Technologies LLC IPR of US11069337B2. He is recognized for his extensive appellate experience, having argued over a hundred appeals, including more than sixty patent appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Academically, John C. O'Quinn earned his B.S. from North Carolina State University, an M.Sc. from Oxford University, and an M.S. from MIT as a Fulbright Scholar. He then received his J.D. from Harvard Law School, graduating first in his class and receiving the Fay Diploma. He also served as a law clerk for Justice Antonin Scalia of the U.S. Supreme Court and Judge David Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He is admitted to practice in New York, and before various U.S. Courts of Appeals and District Courts.