Jonathan Keith Waldrop

Jonathan K. Waldrop is the Chair of the Intellectual Property group at Kasowitz Benson Torres, where he focuses his practice on high-stakes patent and trademark litigation. His technological expertise is broad, encompassing interactive web technologies, video-on-demand telecommunications, cable technology, computer-assisted sales processes, medical devices, gaming systems, and complex financial transactions. He has represented clients in matters involving in-flight connectivity, mobile wallet technology, computer motherboard power controls, and client management/messaging applications.

Waldrop maintains a diverse practice representing both patent holders and accused infringers. While the tracked case shows an appearance on the defendant side for American Airlines against Intellectual Ventures I LLC, his broader practice includes defending industry-leading technology companies such as Google, LG, ASUS, Uber, Adobe, and Cox Communications. Notably, he also represents prominent patent assertion entities, including WSOU Investments LLC, in over 40 patent lawsuits against companies like Canon, NEC, NetGear, and OnePlus. He has been recognized as a "Top Plaintiff Lawyer" in California.

He has significant experience in notable patent litigation. As lead trial counsel for Google and YouTube, Waldrop secured a jury verdict of patent invalidity against Eolas and the University of California, defeating claims for hundreds of millions in damages in a case widely reported as striking down a "patent troll's claim to own the interactive web." He also obtained summary judgment for Google in a patent infringement suit and secured complete dismissal in another six-patent infringement case. In the case of Intellectual Ventures I LLC v. American Airlines Inc., he defended American Airlines against patent infringement claims related to in-flight connectivity, successfully opposing a motion to sever and stay.

Waldrop is recognized for his experience in Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) proceedings. He achieved a precedent-setting victory on behalf of Fintiv Inc. against Apple, where the PTAB issued the first discretionary denial of an inter partes review petition based on the pendency of a parallel patent action, leading to the widely cited "Fintiv Rule." He has also defeated multiple writs of mandamus to the Federal Circuit seeking to transfer patent cases out of the Western District of Texas. He was admitted to the State Bar of California on June 24, 2014.