Ross Ritter Barton

Ross Ritter Barton is a highly experienced patent litigation attorney and a partner in Alston & Bird's Intellectual Property Group, where he also serves as the Hiring Partner for the Charlotte office. With over 20 years of experience, he focuses his practice on complex patent disputes before district courts and the International Trade Commission (ITC). Barton's technical background in Physics underpins his work in high-tech, semiconductor, and telecommunications patents, often involving 3GPP, IEEE, ITU, and TIA standards, including Wi-Fi 6, 4G, and 5G technologies. His practice also extends to fiber optic components, consumer electronics, and LED lighting.

Barton primarily represents defendants, including telecommunications carriers, wireless infrastructure suppliers, and global consumer electronics manufacturers, in high-stakes patent infringement cases and FRAND/RAND licensing disputes. His tracked case, Pegasus Wireless Innovation LLC v. Verizon Communications, Inc., et al., exemplifies this defendant-side focus, involving 4G/LTE and 5G wireless technologies where he represents Verizon and other telecommunications corporations. Patexia recognized him among the top 50 most active and top 100 best-performing attorneys representing defendants in patent litigation.

Notable cases include representing Ericsson Inc. in a FRAND licensing case against Apple Inc. and a separate three-patent infringement case dealing with 5G technology. He also served as lead trial counsel in a seven-patent jury trial in TQ Delta, LLC v. CommScope Holding Co., Inc., et al. Additionally, Barton successfully defended Signify in an ITC patent infringement lawsuit concerning filament LEDs and achieved summary judgment of no infringement for a client in Howlink Global LLC v. AT&T Inc., et al. While his profile highlights extensive ITC experience, there is no specific information available regarding his regular appearance in IPR or PGR proceedings.

Barton is admitted to practice in North Carolina, Virginia, and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), where he is a registered patent attorney. He earned his J.D. from Washington and Lee University in 2004 and his A.B. from Bowdoin College in 2001. He has also shared his expertise as an adjunct professor, teaching patent litigation and trademark law courses at the University of Virginia School of Law and the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.