Cherry Johnson Siegmund James

Cherry Johnson Siegmund James PLLC is a litigation-focused firm headquartered in Waco, Texas, with additional offices in Dallas, Henderson, Palo Alto, Tulsa, and a virtual office in Washington, DC. Described as a robust regional firm with a national litigation presence, Cherry Johnson Siegmund James focuses on high-stakes commercial litigation, intellectual property, and personal injury matters. Chambers USA: Spotlight ranks the firm for Intellectual Property in Waco, noting its strong contentious practice.

The firm's intellectual property litigation practice exhibits particular expertise in telecommunications, biotechnology, and software. Attorneys have handled disputes involving video streaming, wireless communications, mobile devices, semiconductors, and medical devices. Tracked patent litigation cases include representations against major technology companies such as Nvidia, Micron Technology, T-Mobile USA, Apple, and Tesla, in addition to extensive work for entities like Intellectual Ventures and IngenioSpec.

Cherry Johnson Siegmund James operates primarily on the plaintiff side in patent litigation, with 21 tracked plaintiff appearances compared to 10 defendant appearances. The firm frequently represents patent licensing entities (e.g., Speednic LLC, Malikie Innovations Limited, Palisade Technologies LLP, Intellectual Ventures, IngenioSpec, ChargeLogic LLC), while also defending operating companies like Southwest Airlines and Tesla. Notable case outcomes include a voluntary dismissal without prejudice in IngenioSpec, LLC v. Apple, Inc. (1:25-cv-01101) within 36 days, with parties bearing their own costs. The firm reports firm-wide jury verdicts and settlements exceeding $2 billion.

While the firm's PTAB/IPR practice volume is not publicly detailed, its involvement in patent litigation for entities like Intellectual Ventures suggests experience with post-grant proceedings. For instance, Cherry Johnson Siegmund James represented Intellectual Ventures II LLC as the Patent Owner in Tesla, Inc. v. Intellectual Ventures II LLC, IPR2025-00340, where the USPTO Director denied Tesla's IPR petition due to inconsistent claim construction arguments.

Key partners in the intellectual property litigation practice include Mark D. Siegmund, who has been lead or local counsel in 29 tracked cases. Mr. Siegmund, a former law clerk for Judge Alan D. Albright, has secured significant jury verdicts, including one of the largest in the U.S. in 2023. William D. Ellerman, another prominent partner, brings over two decades of trial experience, has secured multimillion-dollar jury verdicts and settlements, and handles both plaintiff and defense work across various technology areas. Founding Partner Deron D. Cherry is also a key contact for the firm's intellectual property practice in Waco.