Tarek Austin

Tarek Austin is a litigator at Covington & Burling LLP, specializing in high-stakes intellectual property disputes and appeals, particularly in patent litigation. His practice encompasses a broad spectrum of technologies, including semiconductors, electronics, solar energy, wireless networking systems, quantum computing, software, and pharmaceuticals. Austin represents clients in complex matters primarily before federal district and appellate courts, and the U.S. International Trade Commission.

In his patent litigation practice, Austin handles cases for both plaintiffs and defendants. According to tracked appearances, he has represented plaintiffs in four cases and defendants in two. Notable representations include Samsung Display and Samsung Electronics in patent litigation concerning smartphone display and sensor technologies, such as the Samsung Display Co., Ltd. v. BOE Technology Group Co. case involving OLED display patents, which concluded with a joint stipulation of dismissal with prejudice. He has also represented Netflix in patent litigation concerning streaming and networking technology, JinkoSolar in solar cell manufacturing patent disputes, and Texas Instruments in wireless networking technology cases. In the life sciences sector, he has represented clients like Boehringer Ingelheim and Omeros in ANDA litigation concerning pharmaceutical products.

Austin possesses experience in inter partes review (IPR) proceedings, having represented Xperi in IPRs and subsequent appeals related to semiconductor manufacturing technology before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and the Federal Circuit. Further demonstrating his appellate expertise, he represented Return Mail in a U.S. Supreme Court challenge regarding a procedure for attacking patent validity (Return Mail, Inc. v. U.S. Postal Service, 139 S. Ct. 1853 (2019)).

Tarek Austin earned his J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School in 2016, where he served as a Notes Editor for the Harvard Law Review. He completed his B.A. magna cum laude at Harvard University in 2012. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Massachusetts, and before the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.