Patent litigation attorney

T. John Ward, Jr.

43 tracked appearances — 40 plaintiff · 3 defendant.

Specialty & background

Attorney Summary: T. John Ward, Jr.

T. John “Johnny” Ward, Jr. is a highly regarded East Texas trial lawyer and a founder of the Longview-based firm Ward, Smith & Hill, PLLC. His practice has been focused on high-stakes intellectual property and patent infringement litigation, alongside complex commercial and personal injury cases. Mr. Ward has built a national reputation for representing plaintiffs in challenging patent disputes, often against major technology companies. His courtroom victories include significant infringement verdicts secured against well-known corporations such as Apple, Samsung, Verizon, and Microsoft.

Based on his record, Mr. Ward’s practice shows a strong preference for representing plaintiffs. The single tracked case, ContentNexus LLC v. JustWatch GMBH, where he served as local counsel for the plaintiff, aligns with this focus. His firm, Ward, Smith & Hill, gained a reputation for its successful plaintiff-side patent litigation, and was described as being "feared by many of the leading patent litigation firms in the United States." Notable outcomes include serving as local counsel for a $502.8 million patent infringement verdict against Apple for VirnetX and helping secure a $62.7 million award for Solas OLED Ltd. against Samsung Display. In 2017, he was co-counsel for Elbit Systems in a $21.1 million patent verdict against Hughes Network Systems.

Mr. Ward has spent his career at his eponymous firm. However, sources indicated that effective October 1, 2024, he would conclude his trial practice as the firm transitioned to the name Miller Fair Henry, PLLC. More recently, he has established Ward ADR, a practice focused on mediation and alternative dispute resolution for complex disputes, drawing on his experience in over 500 patent cases and nearly 60 jury trials. No specific record of regular appearances in IPR or other PTAB proceedings was found.

Mr. Ward earned his law degree magna cum laude from Texas Tech University School of Law in 1995 after graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 1992. Following law school, he clerked for Judge Robert M. Parker of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is admitted to practice in Texas and before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Sixth Circuits, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of Texas.

Firms

Roles

local counsel16
Local Counsel13
Of Counsel6
of counsel4
lead counsel3
lead or co-lead trial counsel1
Lead Counsel1

Cases (43)

π plaintiffABC IP, LLC et al. v. MaRs Trigger, LLC et al.Ward, Smith & Hill · lead counsel
π plaintiffAlmondNet, Inc. et al. v. Roku, Inc.The Mort Law Firm · Local Counsel
π plaintiffAlpha Modus Corp v. Circle K Stores IncWard, Smith & Hill · local counsel
π plaintiffAlpha Modus Corp. v. H&M Hennes & Mauritz LPMiller Fair Henry · of counsel
π plaintiffAlpha Modus Corp. v. Mood Media, LLCWard, Smith & Hill · Local Counsel
π plaintiffAlpha Modus, Corp. v. Buc-ee's, Ltd.Ward, Smith & Hill · Local Counsel
π plaintiffAlpha Modus, Corp. v. Circle KWard, Smith & Hill · Local Counsel
Δ defendantApple Inc. v. Topwire LLCThe Mort Law Firm · Of Counsel
π plaintiffArlington Technologies, LLC v. Comcast Cable Communications, LLCWard, Smith & Hill · lead counsel
π plaintiffAthena Security, LLP v. Cisco Systems, Inc.Ward, Smith & Hill · Local Counsel
Δ defendantAutoConnect Holdings LLC v. General Motors CompanyWard, Smith & Hill · local counsel
π plaintiffBunker Hill Technologies LLC v. Toyota Motor North America Inc. et al.Ward, Smith & Hill · Of Counsel
π plaintiffCedarwood Ventures Inc v. Apple IncWard, Smith & Hill · of counsel
π plaintiffContentNexus LLC v. JustWatch GMBHWard, Smith & Hill · local counsel
π plaintiffContentNexus LLC v. Konka Group Co LtdWard, Smith & Hill · Local Counsel
π plaintiffCyberfone Systems, LLC v. Capital One Financial CorporationThe Ward & Smith Law Firm · local counsel
π plaintiffCyberfone Systems, LLC v. The Charles Schwab CorporationWard, Smith & Hill · local counsel
π plaintiffDatacloud Technologies LLC v. Alphabet Inc. (Google)The Stafford Davis Firm · Of Counsel
π plaintiffDataTreasury Corporation v. Bank of America CorporationWard & Smith Law Firm · Local Counsel
π plaintiffDataTreasury Corporation v. Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.Ward, Smith & Hill · local counsel
π plaintiffDataTreasury Corporation v. NCR Corp.Ward & Smith Law Firm · Local Counsel
π plaintiffDatonics LLC et al. v. Amazon.com, Inc.Miller Fair Henry · of counsel
π plaintiffDisintermediation Services, Inc. v. The Kroger Co. et al.Ward, Smith & Hill · Of Counsel
π plaintiffEgla Corp v. Mood Media LLC et al.Ward, Smith & Hill · Of Counsel
π plaintiffIn re: Rare Breed Triggers Patent LitigationWard, Smith & Hill · Local Counsel
π plaintiffMarshall Feature Recognition, LLC et al. v. Apple Inc.Ward, Smith & Hill · Lead Counsel
π plaintiffMarshall Feature Recognition, LLC et al. v. Barnes & Noble, Inc.Ward, Smith & Hill · lead or co-lead trial counsel
π plaintiffMonticello Enterprises LLC v. Samsung Electronics America, Inc.Ward, Smith & Hill · Local Counsel
π plaintiffRadiant Patents LLC v. Nokia Corporation et al.Ward, Smith & Hill · Local Counsel
π plaintiffSamsung Electronics America Inc. et al. v. Topwire LLCWard, Smith & Hill · local counsel
π plaintiffTurboCode LLC v. Dell Technologies Inc. et alWard, Smith & Hill · lead counsel
π plaintiffUniloc Luxembourg S.A. v. Mojang ABWard, Smith & Hill
π plaintiffUniloc Luxembourg S.A. v. Twitter, Inc.Ward, Smith & Hill · local counsel
π plaintiffUniloc USA, Inc. et al. v. Kaspersky Lab, Inc.Ward, Smith & Hill · local counsel
π plaintiffUniloc USA, Inc. et al. v. Sony Corporation of America et al.Law Office of T. John Ward, Jr. · local counsel
π plaintiffUniloc USA, Inc. v. Adobe Systems Inc.Ward, Smith & Hill · Local Counsel
π plaintiffUniloc USA, Inc. v. Electronic Arts Inc.Ward, Smith & Hill · local counsel
π plaintiffUniloc USA, Inc. v. Sega of America, Inc.Ward & Smith Law Firm · local counsel
π plaintiffUniloc USA, Inc. v. Ubisoft, Inc.Ward, Smith & Hill · local counsel
π plaintiffVB Assets, LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Ward, Smith & Hill · Local Counsel
π plaintiffVirnetX Inc. v. Apple Inc.Ward, Smith & Hill · local counsel
Δ defendantVisa USA Inc v. Cortex MCP IncThe Mort Law Firm · local counsel
π plaintiffX One Inc v. Neighborfavor Inc et al.Ward, Smith & Hill · local counsel