Leslie M. Spencer

I'll research this attorney's background and verify the tracked cases.

Let me verify the tracked case and the notable outcomes.

Let me verify the Orckit outcome and the $361M verdict details.

Leslie M. Spencer — Desmarais LLP (New York)

Specialty / focus. Spencer is a trial litigator whose patent practice centers on technically dense electronics and software disputes: network communications and standards-related networking gear, computer software (including AI and blockchain), data encryption and security, semiconductor design and manufacturing, Fintech, automotive systems, and healthcare IT/medical devices. Desmarais's and IP Stars' practice descriptions list her industry sectors as computer technology, telecommunications, semiconductors, life sciences, and mechanical. Her engineering background (B.S. in computer science and engineering, MIT; prior work as a software engineer) underpins the hardware/networking focus, though her docket also includes pharma-adjacent NPE defense and mechanical/automotive matters.

Side preference. Her practice is overwhelmingly defensive. The tracked data show 0 plaintiff-side and 3 defendant-side appearances, all at Desmarais, with her serving as lead counsel in each. That aligns with her published representative matters, which are expressly labeled "Defensive" and describe defending Cisco, Lenovo, Dolby, a major U.S. automaker, a large bank holding company, and enterprise software and insurance companies against NPE and competitor assertions. There is some offensive work noted in her bio, but the verified record is defense-side.

Firm context and notable cases. Spencer joined Desmarais LLP as a partner in its New York office effective March 31, 2020. Before that she was a partner in the New York office of an international law firm; the firm does not name it, but a 2020 district court filing in the Dolby/Intertrust litigation lists her with Ropes & Gray email addresses alongside her Desmarais contact, indicating Ropes & Gray was the prior firm. Her most prominent tracked matter is Quicker Connections LLC v. Cisco Systems, Inc. (E.D. Tex., No. 2:24-cv-01074, Judge Gilstrap), in which Cisco is defending accusations that its optical networking platforms (Catalyst PON, NCS 2000/2002/2006, ONS 15454/15600) infringe five to six former Orckit patents. Other verifiable highlights: she was on the Desmarais team that won a jury verdict of noninfringement eliminating $361 million in NPE damages claims (the firm does not name the client or case); she helped Dolby Laboratories resolve a multi-jurisdiction dispute over ten Intertrust digital rights management patents in which Intertrust sought $2 billion, with Dolby prevailing in IPR and through district court motion practice; and IAM Patent 1000 credits her and Tamir Packin with successfully defending Cisco against Orckit's infringement claims covering hundreds of Cisco products. I could not independently verify a specific verdict or final judgment in the Quicker Connections case from the sources available.

PTAB / IPR. She appears regularly before the PTAB and identifies PTAB litigation as a core practice area. Verified proceedings include the Dolby/Intertrust IPRs (she is listed as counsel in IPR2020-00663), Cisco's IPR2023-00402 against Orckit (final written decision holding the challenged claims unpatentable), and CBM review work for a bank holding company and an insurance company.

Bar / education. Admitted in New York (2001) and registered to practice before the USPTO; admitted to the Federal Circuit, the Supreme Court, and the S.D.N.Y., E.D.N.Y., and E.D. Wis. district courts. J.D., NYU School of Law (1998); LL.M. in Trial Advocacy, Temple University Beasley School of Law (2006); M.B.A., University of Michigan Ross School of Business (1988); B.S., MIT (1985).