Michael Newton

Michael Newton is a seasoned patent litigator and a partner in Alston & Bird's Intellectual Property Litigation Group, where he also serves as co-chair of the firm's Intellectual Property area. His practice focuses on complex patent infringement litigation and counseling across a broad range of highly technical industries. He handles matters involving semiconductors, telecommunications (including 802.11 wireless standards and CDMA technology), security, consumer electronics, medical devices, and biology and chemistry technologies. His experience includes cases related to automotive connectivity, video game technology, touch screen devices, satellite television systems, laptop computers, internet routing, LED technology, and encryption technologies.

Newton primarily represents defendants, including multinational corporations and leading technology companies, in patent infringement actions. This is consistent with his tracked appearance as lead counsel for Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc. in AutoConnect Holdings LLC v. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc. et al. He has a strong record of securing favorable outcomes for his clients, including summary judgments and jury verdicts.

His notable successes include representing Nokia in patent infringement cases, where summary judgment was granted in Nokia's favor and affirmed on appeal in a case involving ergonomic design of cellular handset keyboards. He also successfully defended DIRECTV and other parties in a USITC action involving satellite television integrated receivers/decoders, where the ITC ruled in their favor. Additionally, Newton has participated in patent license negotiations and advises clients on acquiring, selling, and monetizing intellectual property assets.

Newton possesses significant experience with proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). He has been involved in post-grant review proceedings, including inter partes reviews (IPRs), both on the petitioner and patent owner sides, and has co-authored analyses on the impact and developments in IPRs. He is admitted to practice in California and Texas and received his J.D. from The University of Texas in 1991, following M.A. (1988) and B.S. (1985) degrees in theoretical physics from the same institution.