Elam & Burke

Elam & Burke is a regional law firm established in 1928, headquartered in Boise, Idaho. The firm maintains a single office in Boise but has attorneys licensed in multiple states, including California, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, and is a member of Meritas, a global alliance of independent law firms. Recognized in the 2026 "Best Law Firms" and Chambers USA for General Commercial Litigation, Elam & Burke is not classified as a BigLaw or IP boutique, but rather a well-established regional firm with a diverse practice.

The firm's intellectual property litigation practice primarily focuses on copyright and trademark disputes, as well as trade secret actions, within its broader commercial litigation offerings. While their website describes defending "an array of copyright and trademark infringement claims in both federal and state courts," specific technology areas for patent litigation, such as Wi-Fi standards, pharmaceuticals, or semiconductors, are not explicitly detailed.

Elam & Burke appears to primarily represent defendants in litigation. The firm's single tracked patent litigation appearance, Rare Breed Triggers Inc et al. v. Tyler Harrison et al., involved them serving as "of counsel" for the defendant. This aligns with their general commercial litigation practice, which emphasizes defending businesses and managing disputes.

Beyond Rare Breed Triggers Inc et al. v. Tyler Harrison et al., no other prominent patent litigation cases with verifiable public outcomes, such as significant verdicts, Federal Circuit appeals, or widely reported settlements, are detailed in the available public information. The firm's profile does not indicate a specific volume or dedicated practice for Post-Grant Review (PGR) or Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).

Key attorneys involved in Elam & Burke's IP and commercial litigation matters include Joyce A. Hemmer, a shareholder who was "of counsel" in the tracked patent case and is listed as a practicing attorney for commercial litigation. Other notable practitioners in relevant areas include Molly A. Miragas, a shareholder who practices intellectual property litigation and commercial litigation, and Meredith L. Kohler, Of Counsel, who works on copyright and trademark matters. Matthew L. Walters, a shareholder, is also recognized for his broader litigation practice, which encompasses commercial disputes.