Karim Oussayef

Karim Oussayef is an accomplished patent litigator and first-chair trial counsel at Desmarais LLP, specializing in high-stakes technology-driven disputes. His practice encompasses a broad range of technology areas, including software, e-commerce, telecommunications (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular network switching, adaptive bitrate streaming), financial transaction products, server load-balancing, encryption, and biologics manufacturing technology. With a background in Computer Science, Mr. Oussayef effectively translates complex technical concepts into persuasive legal arguments.

While Mr. Oussayef primarily defends operating companies in patent infringement actions, his experience also includes securing significant victories for patent owners. He was counsel for IBM in DISH Wireless L.L.C. et al. v. International Business Machines Corporation, where IBM was the defendant. In a notable plaintiff-side engagement, he served as first-chair trial counsel for IBM, contributing to an $82.5 million jury verdict against Groupon for infringing e-commerce patents, a case that later settled for $57 million. Other successes include obtaining summary judgment of noninfringement for a major consumer electronics company in a Bluetooth technology case, which was affirmed by the Federal Circuit, and favorably settling a defense-side patent infringement claim for a digital services company with over $100 million at stake.

Mr. Oussayef maintains an active appellate practice, appearing regularly before the Federal Circuit. He notably secured a unanimous Federal Circuit decision overturning the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) on two inter partes review (IPR) decisions concerning IBM computer authentication technology. He is also listed as back-up counsel in multiple IPR proceedings for IBM.

Before his current role as Of Counsel at Desmarais LLP, where he previously served as an associate from 2011 to 2016, Mr. Oussayef was an associate in the Intellectual Property Group at Ropes & Gray LLP. He earned his J.D. magna cum laude from Boston University School of Law in 2008 and holds a B.S. cum laude in Computer Science with High Departmental Distinction from the University of Rochester (2004), with a focus on artificial intelligence. He is admitted to practice in New York and Massachusetts.