Michael Morlock

Michael Morlock is a patent litigation partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, focusing his practice primarily on the electronics and software industries. His technical experience spans areas such as handheld devices, network providers, advanced mobile technologies, display technology, and digital content processing. Additionally, his background includes work on mechanical shoe cushioning systems and packaging technology. Prior to his legal career, he worked as a Research Engineer for the Georgia Tech Research Institute, focusing on electronic warfare and defense avionics systems.

Morlock demonstrates a balanced practice, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in patent infringement actions. His experience includes acting as lead counsel for defendants in certain matters, as indicated by his appearances in tracked cases. Notable plaintiff-side work includes representing GREE, Inc. in patent infringement suits against Supercell Oy, which resulted in over $100 million in jury verdicts across two trials in 2020 and 2021. He also represented Ring Container Technologies, LLC in an offensive patent infringement action that achieved a favorable resolution. On the defense and challenger side, he has served as counsel for companies like Hisense USA Corporation and Motorola Mobility, LLC in challenging patents, and successfully defended adidas AG's patents in inter partes reviews (IPRs).

He possesses extensive experience in post-grant proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), where he is a member of Kilpatrick Townsend's PTAB litigation group. This group has received recognition for its performance representing both patent owners and petitioners. Morlock's PTAB successes include prevailing on behalf of Google Inc. in IPRs challenging the validity of digital content processing patents, leading to all challenged claims being found unpatentable. He also co-authored an ACC Guide on post-grant proceedings at the USPTO.

Mr. Morlock was admitted to practice law in North Carolina in 2008, the same year he graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He has been recognized as a top patent practitioner by IAM Patent 1000 and as a North Carolina "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers magazine.