Ryan J. Schletzbaum

As of May 2026, Ryan J. Schletzbaum is an intellectual property litigator and Partner at Shook, Hardy & Bacon in Kansas City. His practice focuses on complex patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret litigation across a variety of technologies, including telecommunications, enterprise software, navigation systems, smartphones, and athletic apparel.

Schletzbaum has significant experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in federal courts nationwide. While the provided case list shows a single appearance on the plaintiff side, his broader practice involves defending large operating companies and pursuing infringement actions. His firm biography notes he has helped secure over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for plaintiffs. Notable clients he has represented in high-stakes litigation include Sprint, Garmin, and Nike. His representative matters include acting as trial counsel for Sprint in a series of patent infringement actions involving voice-over-packet (VOP) technology, which resulted in favorable settlements prior to trial.

In addition to his district court practice, Schletzbaum has experience in post-grant proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), where he has represented petitioners in inter partes review (IPR) proceedings. He has also briefed and argued intellectual property matters before federal appellate courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Schletzbaum earned his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law in 2009 and a B.S. from Kansas State University in 2004. He is admitted to the bar in Missouri, various federal district courts, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Federal and Eighth Circuits, and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.