Shoals Technologies Group, LLC v. Voltage, LLC

Shoals Technologies Group, LLC, a prominent U.S. operating company specializing in electrical balance of system (EBOS) solutions for solar energy projects, initiated this patent infringement litigation against Voltage, LLC, another operating company providing utility-scale wire and EBOS solutions. Shoals designs and manufactures critical electrical frameworks like cable assemblies and inline fuses for the solar industry, with its patented "Big Lead Assembly" (BLA) solution being central to the dispute. Voltage, based in Chapel Hill, NC, offers innovative solar wiring systems, and their "LYNX trunk bus products" are accused of infringing Shoals' intellectual property.

The patents asserted by Shoals are U.S. Patent 12,015,376 and U.S. Patent 12,015,375, both titled "Lead assembly for connecting solar panel arrays to inverter." These patents generally describe lead assemblies that integrate drop lines with a feeder cable using mold structures, designed to eliminate the need for traditional combiner boxes in solar power installations, thereby reducing installation costs and improving reliability. The procedural posture of this case is before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), specifically investigation number 337-TA-1438. The ITC is a critical venue for patent holders seeking to prevent the importation of infringing goods into the U.S., as it can issue powerful exclusion orders, and its investigations are known for their expedited timelines compared to federal district court litigation, often concluding within 15-18 months.

This case is notable within the burgeoning energy transition sector, underscoring intensified legal battles as U.S. manufacturers like Shoals, which holds a significant share of the domestic EBOS market, seek to protect their innovative technologies. This is Shoals' second ITC complaint against Voltage, with the current patents being specifically issued and asserted to safeguard against alternative designs Voltage might develop following a prior ITC case involving different patents, where an initial finding of infringement was ultimately reversed by the Commission. The outcome of this investigation is keenly watched, as it could set precedents for intellectual property protection in the solar industry and influence domestic manufacturing and supply chains for electrical infrastructure solutions.

Key Legal Developments and Outcome in Shoals Technologies Group, LLC v. Voltage, LLC (ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1438)

This ongoing patent infringement litigation at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) involves Shoals Technologies Group, LLC (Shoals) asserting U.S. Patent Nos. 12015376 and 12015375 against Voltage, LLC and Ningbo Voltage Smart Production Co. (collectively, Voltage). The investigation, designated as 337-TA-1438, is currently pending a final determination by the full Commission, expected by June 2026.

Chronological Legal Developments:

2025

• 2025-01-09 – Complaint Filing: Shoals Technologies Group, LLC filed a new patent infringement complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission against Voltage, LLC and its foreign entity, Ningbo Voltage Smart Production Co., initiating Investigation No. 337-TA-1438. The complaint asserted two newly issued patents, U.S. Patent Nos. 12015375 and 12015376, related to Shoals' Big Lead Assembly (BLA) solutions for connecting solar panel arrays to inverters. Shoals stated these new patents were intended to protect against existing and alternative designs Voltage might create to bypass an earlier patent (the '153 patent) involved in a previous ITC investigation.
• 2025-02-11 – Institution of Investigation: The ITC officially instituted Investigation No. 337-TA-1438 concerning the asserted patents.
• 2025-03-03 – ALJ Issued Target Date Order: The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued an order setting the target date for the investigation.
• 2025-08-26 – Evidentiary Hearing End Date: The evidentiary hearing in the investigation concluded by this date.

2026

• 2026-02-05 – Initial Determination (Violation): The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued an initial determination finding that a violation of Section 337 occurred.
• 2026-02-06 – Public Announcement of Favorable Initial Ruling: Shoals Technologies Group publicly announced receiving a favorable initial determination from the ALJ. The judge found that Voltage violated Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 by importing infringing LYNX trunk bus products into the United States, which infringe Shoals' intellectual property related to its Big Lead Assembly (BLA) solutions, covered by the two asserted U.S. patents.
• 2026-02-19 – Confirmation of Initial Ruling: Troutman Pepper Locke, legal counsel for Shoals, confirmed securing the ALJ's ruling that Voltage and Ningbo Voltage Smart Production Co. violated Section 337 by importing infringing photovoltaic "trunk bus" cable assemblies and related components.
• 2026-02-24 – Full Initial Determination on Violation and Recommended Determination on Remedy and Bond: The ALJ issued a more comprehensive initial determination, upholding the validity of the asserted patents and finding both direct and indirect infringement. This determination also included a recommended determination on remedy and bond.
• Expected by 2026-06 – Final Determination: The full International Trade Commission is expected to issue its final determination in the investigation by June 2026.

Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings:

• No Institution of IPRs on Current Patents: Notably, there was "no institution of Inter Partes Review petitions against the same two Shoals patents the ALJ found Voltage to infringe" in this investigation.
• IPR2025-01443 for U.S. Patent No. 12,015,375: Voltage, LLC and Ningbo Voltage Smart Production Co. filed an Inter Partes Review (IPR) petition, IPR2025-01443, challenging claims 1–2, 4–8, 10–17, and 19–24 of U.S. Patent No. 12,015,375. Voltage stipulated that if the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) institutes the IPR, they will not pursue the challenged claims based on any grounds raised or that could have been reasonably raised during the IPR in a parallel district court litigation (Case No. 1:25-cv-00026 in the Middle District of North Carolina). If institution is declined, Voltage reserves the right to pursue those grounds in the parallel litigation.

Context of Previous Litigation:

It is important to note that this is not the first ITC dispute between Shoals and Voltage. Shoals had previously filed an infringement complaint (likely in May 2023) asserting U.S. Patent No. 11689153 (the '153 patent). In that earlier investigation, an ALJ's initial determination finding a violation was subsequently reversed by the full ITC, which issued a final determination of "no violation." Shoals appealed this reversal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on February 11, 2025, seeking a review and overturn of the ITC's interpretation of the '153 patent. A motion to institute post-grant review proceedings in that earlier case was denied by the PTAB on September 30, 2024. The current ITC investigation (337-TA-1438) was initiated with the new '375 and '376 patents, which Shoals believes provide broader protection against Voltage's products.

Shoals Technologies Group, LLC is represented by attorneys from Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP in the patent infringement case before the U.S. International Trade Commission, Investigation No. 337-TA-1438.

The following counsel have been identified:

• William ("Bill") Belanger

  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP, Boston Office.
  • Experience: Led the Troutman Pepper team that secured a favorable initial ruling for Shoals Technologies Group in this ITC investigation, finding that Voltage violated Section 337 by infringing two Shoals patents. He also successfully prevented the institution of Inter Partes Review (IPR) petitions against the same Shoals patents.

• Kim Coghill

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP.
  • Experience: Part of the Troutman Pepper team that secured a favorable initial ruling for Shoals Technologies Group in this ITC investigation.

• Puja Patel Lea

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP.
  • Experience: Member of the Troutman Pepper team that secured a favorable initial ruling for Shoals Technologies Group in this ITC investigation.

• Frank Liu

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP.
  • Experience: Contributed to the Troutman Pepper team's success in securing a favorable initial ruling for Shoals Technologies Group in this ITC investigation.

• Dustin Ferzacca

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP.
  • Experience: Involved in the Troutman Pepper team that secured a favorable initial ruling for Shoals Technologies Group in this ITC investigation.

• Brittany Reeves

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP.
  • Experience: Part of the Troutman Pepper team that secured a favorable initial ruling for Shoals Technologies Group in this ITC investigation.

• Gillian Schutt

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP.
  • Experience: Member of the Troutman Pepper team that secured a favorable initial ruling for Shoals Technologies Group in this ITC investigation.

• Ryan Deck

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP.
  • Experience: Contributed to the Troutman Pepper team's success in securing a favorable initial ruling for Shoals Technologies Group in this ITC investigation.

• Mikaella Evaristo

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP.
  • Experience: Involved in the Troutman Pepper team that secured a favorable initial ruling for Shoals Technologies Group in this ITC investigation.

Voltage, LLC is represented by White & Case LLP. The team secured a significant victory for Voltage in a prior ITC investigation (337-TA-1365) against Shoals Technologies Group, where a final determination of "no violation" was issued in January 2025, reversing an initial administrative law judge's finding. While an initial determination finding infringement was made against Voltage in the current investigation (337-TA-1438) in February 2026 regarding patents 12015375 and 12015376, White & Case LLP continues to represent Voltage as the final determination is pending.

The counsel of record identified for Voltage, LLC from White & Case LLP are:

• Yar Chaikovsky

  • Role: Partner, Global Head of IP (likely lead counsel in ITC matters)
  • Firm: White & Case LLP, Silicon Valley office.
  • Experience: Led the White & Case team that secured a "no violation" final determination for Voltage in a prior ITC patent infringement dispute against Shoals Technologies Group.

• Philip Ou

  • Role: Partner
  • Firm: White & Case LLP, Silicon Valley office.
  • Experience: Part of the White & Case team that successfully represented Voltage in a previous ITC investigation against Shoals, resulting in a "no violation" finding.

• Jordan Coyle

  • Role: Partner
  • Firm: White & Case LLP, Washington, DC office.
  • Experience: Member of the White & Case team that obtained a favorable "no violation" final determination for Voltage in a prior ITC patent dispute.

• Bruce Yen

  • Role: Partner
  • Firm: White & Case LLP, Silicon Valley office.
  • Experience: Contributed to the White & Case team's success in securing a "no violation" finding for Voltage in an earlier ITC patent infringement case.

• Yolanda Xu

  • Role: Associate
  • Firm: White & Case LLP, Silicon Valley office.
  • Experience: Member of the White & Case team representing Voltage in ITC patent litigation.

• Sojung Yun

  • Role: Associate
  • Firm: White & Case LLP, Silicon Valley office.
  • Experience: Part of the White & Case team representing Voltage in ITC patent litigation.

• Brady Schoenlein

  • Role: Associate
  • Firm: White & Case LLP, Silicon Valley office.
  • Experience: Member of the White & Case team representing Voltage in ITC patent litigation.

• Radhesh Devendran

  • Role: Associate
  • Firm: White & Case LLP, Silicon Valley office.
  • Experience: Contributed to the White & Case team representing Voltage in ITC patent litigation.

Voltage, LLC also has in-house counsel, Monica Winghart, founder of Voltage Law, who is a registered US Patent Attorney and IP strategist, with experience in data privacy, cybersecurity, intellectual property, and tech transactions. While her role as in-house counsel is noted, the primary external representation for the ITC case is by White & Case LLP.