Patrick Thomas Schmidt

Patrick Thomas Schmidt is a highly experienced patent litigator and trial attorney at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, specializing in complex intellectual property and commercial disputes. His practice focuses on patent infringement and trade secret matters, with a particular emphasis on technology areas such as aerospace, satellite communications, helicopter avionics, rocket propulsion systems, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, inter-processor communication, graphics processing, autonomous vehicle technology, image processing, electronic image stabilization, push messaging technologies, and aerospace fastener technology.

While Schmidt's firm profile indicates he represents both plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes litigation, his tracked appearances predominantly show a defense-side preference, with six recorded appearances as defendant's counsel and none for plaintiffs. He has been lead counsel in four of these tracked cases. His notable representations include securing a complete jury verdict on behalf of Qualcomm in patent infringement litigation against Apple, involving inter-processor communication and graphics processing, and obtaining a jury verdict of non-infringement for Google and YouTube in a patent case concerning push messaging technologies. He also served as counsel for Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. in Secure Communication Technologies, LLC v. SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

Beyond patent cases, Schmidt successfully represented Waymo against Uber in a trade secret misappropriation case related to autonomous vehicle technology, obtaining a preliminary injunction. He also secured a $16 million jury verdict for Rogerson Kratos and Rogerson Aircraft Corporation in a trade secret and breach of contract case involving helicopter avionics and obtained terminating sanctions and a permanent injunction for Virgin Galactic in a trade secret misappropriation dispute. His practice includes experience in International Trade Commission (ITC) proceedings, although specific details regarding IPR/PTAB experience are not readily available in public sources.

Schmidt earned his J.D. with High Honors from the University of Texas School of Law and holds a B.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the United States Military Academy, West Point, along with an M.B.A from Auburn University. He served as an officer and engineer in the United States Air Force prior to his legal career and clerked for the Honorable James B. Loken of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He is admitted to the State Bar of California and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.