Stephen E. T. Susman

Stephen E. T. Susman was a towering figure in commercial litigation and the founder of Susman Godfrey LLP, a firm renowned for its high-stakes trial work. Known for his aggressive advocacy and pioneering use of contingency fees in complex commercial cases, he built a practice that frequently represented plaintiffs. Throughout his career, Susman was deeply involved in patent litigation, with one source indicating he spent 70% of his time on such matters in 2007, often pursuing cases on behalf of patent holders. His firm, Susman Godfrey, has a strong patent litigation practice, securing over a billion dollars for clients in patent infringement matters.

During his distinguished career, Susman primarily represented plaintiffs, demonstrating a clear preference for bringing complex commercial and intellectual property claims. His expertise spanned various technology areas as part of broader commercial disputes, though specific technical fields are not predominantly highlighted in his individual profile beyond the general scope of "patented technology." Notable successes include securing a $1.1 billion settlement for Texas Instruments in a breach of contract dispute against Samsung Electronics and a $140 million jury verdict for the plaintiff in Masimo v. Tyco Healthcare Group in 2005. He also achieved a landmark $550 million antitrust settlement in the Corrugated Container Antitrust case in 1979 and a $536 million jury verdict in El Paso Natural Gas Co. v. GHR Energy Corp. Susman's legacy is closely tied to his firm, Susman Godfrey, which he founded in 1980 and built into a leading litigation boutique with offices in Houston, New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle.

Stephen E. T. Susman passed away on July 14, 2020. Therefore, he could not have personally served as Lead Counsel in the case AlmondNet, Inc. et al. v. Roku, Inc., which was filed in 2021 and saw activity through 2025. This specific case involvement likely refers to the ongoing work of his firm, Susman Godfrey, rather than his individual participation. While PTAB/IPR experience is a significant aspect of modern patent litigation, it was not a primary focus highlighted in discussions of Mr. Susman's personal trial-centric practice during his active years, which emphasized civil jury trials.

Mr. Susman was admitted to the Bars of Texas, the District of Columbia, New York, and Colorado. He earned his J.D. with highest honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 1965, where he was editor-in-chief of the Texas Law Review and graduated first in his class. He also held a B.A. magna cum laude from Yale University (1962) and served clerkships for Judge John R. Brown of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and Justice Hugo Black of the U.S. Supreme Court.