Baker Botts

Based on an analysis of the firm's public statements and industry rankings as of May 2, 2026, the following is a summary of the patent litigation practice of Baker Botts L.L.P.

Firm Overview
Baker Botts L.L.P. is a large, international law firm founded and headquartered in Houston, Texas, and is considered a "BigLaw" firm with offices across the United States and globally. The firm is frequently ranked among the top U.S. law firms, with Vault placing it at #53 in its 2026 Law 100 list. The Intellectual Property department is one of the largest among U.S. general practice firms, with over 150 attorneys and patent professionals. In its 2025 rankings, Chambers USA recognized Baker Botts with a Band 1 ranking for Intellectual Property in Texas and a national ranking for its IP practice.

Litigation Practice and Side Preference
The firm's patent litigation practice is known for handling complex competitor disputes across a wide range of technologies, including telecommunications, life sciences, electronics, semiconductors, and software. Baker Botts has one of the nation's most active patent dockets, representing clients in district courts, the International Trade Commission (ITC), and on appeal. While the firm represents both plaintiffs and defendants, it has a particularly high volume and success rate on the defense side. Lex Machina identified Baker Botts as having one of the top six busiest defensive patent litigation practices nationwide from 2021 to 2023. Tracked cases include representing the plaintiff in Rare Breed Triggers Inc. v. Nguyen and the defendant in Monticello Enterprises LLC v. Starbucks Corp.

Notable Outcomes and PTAB Practice
Baker Botts has secured a number of high-stakes litigation victories, including significant appellate reversals that overturned nine-figure verdicts for clients such as DISH Network, Ericsson, and Samsung. The firm also has a highly regarded practice before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Chambers USA ranks its PTAB practice in Band 2 nationwide, and the firm reports having handled over 700 IPR and other PTAB matters, making it one of the most active practices among general practice firms.

Key Partners
The firm's Intellectual Property department is chaired by Christa Brown-Sanford. Other key partners recognized in industry rankings for their work in patent litigation, appellate, and PTAB proceedings include Douglas Kubehl, Michael Hawes, Robert Benson, and Jennifer Tempesta.