Sam Whitt

Sam Whitt is an Associate in patent litigation at Cooley, specializing in disputes involving complex software, firmware, semiconductor, wireless, computer, and electronic technologies. Leveraging his background as an engineer who developed software and firmware, he brings a technical understanding to patent, trade secret, and copyright litigation. His practice further extends to Hatch-Waxman and Section 337 investigations before the International Trade Commission (ITC). Mr. Whitt primarily defends operating companies, often in high-stakes intellectual property disputes against competitors and non-practicing entities.

Based in Cooley's Washington, DC office, Mr. Whitt joined the firm following judicial clerkships with Judge Raymond Chen of the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and Chief Judge Leonard Stark of the US District Court for the District of Delaware. Notable representations include his role as part of the Cooley team that secured a decisive victory for Caihong Display Devices Co Ltd. in a Section 337 investigation at the ITC, where an initial determination found that Caihong's substrate glass formula did not infringe Corning Incorporated's patents. He also contributed to the Cooley team that successfully lifted a Hatch-Waxman injunction for Liquidia Technologies, facilitating the launch of their product.

Mr. Whitt's experience spans various litigation phases, including appearances before US district courts, the Federal Circuit, and the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Cooley maintains a robust Patent Office Litigation practice, utilizing inter partes review (IPR) and other post-grant proceedings as key defense strategies. Mr. Whitt is admitted to practice in California and the District of Columbia, and is registered with the USPTO. He earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2012 and holds a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Brigham Young University, awarded in 2006.