Carella Byrne Cecchi Brody & Agnello

Carella Byrne Cecchi Brody & Agnello is a regional law firm headquartered in Roseland, New Jersey, with additional offices in Miami, Florida, and Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1976, the firm has grown to include approximately 40 attorneys, offering a comprehensive range of legal services including intellectual property, general and complex litigation, corporate, and healthcare law. While the firm handles various legal matters, its intellectual property practice is equipped to both enforce and defend against claims, with litigators experienced in proceedings across the United States, including before the Federal Circuit and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).

In patent litigation, Carella Byrne Cecchi Brody & Agnello has notably represented defendants. The firm's tracked cases indicate two appearances on the defendant side and none on the plaintiff side. Their recent patent litigation experience includes representing DraftKings Inc. in disputes related to online gaming and sports wagering technology. These cases, AG 18, LLC v. DRAFTKINGS INC. and WinView IP Holdings, LLC v. DraftKings, involved patents concerning technologies like latency equalization for live-TV skill gaming, low-latency streaming, real-time betting synchronization, and fairness mechanisms in sports wagering.

In WinView IP Holdings, LLC v. DraftKings, the firm represented DraftKings in a Federal Circuit appeal (No. 24-1653) concerning U.S. Patent 9,878,243 B2. This appeal was voluntarily dismissed by mutual agreement on June 28, 2024, with no merits ruling issued and each party bearing its own costs. Additionally, in related PTAB proceedings, DraftKings Inc. initiated an Inter Partes Review (IPR2026-00175) against WinView IP Holdings, LLC, challenging U.S. Patent 11,338,189. The firm's website confirms its capability in post-grant proceedings before the PTAB, aligning with their client's active use of IPRs as a defensive strategy.

Key partners in the firm's litigation practice include James E. Cecchi and Melissa Ellen Flax. Mr. Cecchi, a partner admitted to the Federal Circuit, has been involved in both tracked patent cases and possesses extensive experience in complex litigation, including class actions and antitrust matters where patent issues can arise. Ms. Flax, also a partner admitted to the Federal Circuit, is an accomplished litigator with a broad background in complex commercial disputes in both state and federal courts.