John Neukom

John "Jay" Neukom is a highly experienced patent litigator focusing on intellectual property disputes within the technology sector, particularly concerning semiconductors, network security, software, and the Internet of Things. His practice encompasses patent infringement, trade secret misappropriation, copyright infringement, and Lanham Act claims.

Neukom primarily defends publicly traded and large private operating companies, consistently representing defendants in high-stakes courtroom disputes against competitors. His tracked case appearances, including his role as lead counsel for defendants in Realtime Data LLC v. Reduxio Systems, Inc. et al., underscore this defense-oriented approach. He has represented notable clients such as Cisco, Google, Philips, and Fortinet.

Currently a partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell, Neukom joined the firm in February 2026. Before Davis Polk, he was an Intellectual Property Litigation partner at Debevoise & Plimpton, which he joined in March 2022. Prior to that, he spent over four years at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where he served as co-head of its IP litigation practice, and was previously a partner at Quinn Emanuel.

He has taken 21 cases to trial verdict or arbitration award, successfully arguing appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Ninth Circuit. For instance, he served as lead counsel for Fortinet, defending patent claims over data compression in the Realtime Data LLC case, which resulted in a dismissal affirmed by the Federal Circuit. Neukom has successfully defeated over $6 billion in claims against clients and recovered over $600 million for them through judgments and settlements. His experience also extends to the U.S. Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB), including a case where all claims were invalidated in a patent defense for GAF.

Neukom earned his J.D. from Stanford Law School, where he was an Executive Editor of the Stanford Law Review. He also holds an M.A. from Yale University and a B.A. from Dartmouth College. He is admitted to practice in California and before various federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.