Davis Polk & Wardwell

Davis Polk & Wardwell is an elite global law firm with its headquarters in New York and a significant international footprint, including offices in Los Angeles, Northern California, and Washington D.C.. Recognized as a prominent BigLaw firm, it is ranked #7 on the Vault Law 100 list and employs between 1,500 and 2,000 attorneys as of 2026.

The firm's intellectual property litigation practice maintains an increasingly prominent presence, particularly within its California-based patent disputes group. Davis Polk is noted for its work with major technology-sector companies across various domains, including telecommunications, medical devices, networking, biotechnology, media and entertainment, software, cloud computing, and e-commerce. The firm also has emerging expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) related IP litigation.

Davis Polk actively represents both plaintiffs and defendants in patent disputes, demonstrating a balanced approach to litigation. While the firm's recent tracked cases show a lean towards defendant-side engagements (three defendant, one plaintiff), key partners are known for securing favorable outcomes for both patent owners and alleged infringers.

Notable engagements include securing a significant trial victory for Meta and WhatsApp in a spyware case in May 2025, following a landmark summary judgment against NSO Group. The firm also achieved a favorable settlement for Comcast Corporation in March 2025, during a jury trial against Touchstream Technologies concerning video playback technology, which sought over $550 million in damages. Other significant defense successes include a ruling of no infringement for Comcast in a patent suit brought by WhereverTV and a trial victory for Magnolia Medical in a patent infringement case in December 2025. Additionally, Davis Polk successfully defended TSMC, MediaTek, and Qualcomm in an ITC action in October 2019. The firm has experience appearing before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and district and federal courts, though specific IPR volume data is not publicly available.

Key figures in Davis Polk's IP litigation practice include Ashok Ramani, who heads the IP litigation group and is recognized by Chambers USA as a Band 2 practitioner. David Lisson, also a Chambers-ranked partner (Band 5), is known for trying numerous cases and securing substantial verdicts for clients. Micah G. Block, another Band 5 Chambers-ranked partner, is recognized for his sophisticated representation of both plaintiffs and defendants in IP trials.