Glaser Weil Fink Howard Avchen & Shapiro

Glaser Weil Fink Howard Avchen & Shapiro LLP: Patent Litigation Summary

Firm Overview
Glaser Weil Fink Howard Avchen & Shapiro LLP is a full-service, mid-sized law firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California. While it is a full-service firm with a strong reputation in general commercial and entertainment litigation, it is not typically categorized as a "BigLaw" firm in the AmLaw 100/200 rankings. However, it is recognized by Chambers and Partners and Best Lawyers for its litigation practices. The firm primarily operates from its Los Angeles base, serving a diverse client base from startups to global corporations and high-profile individuals.

IP Litigation Specialty and Side Preference
The firm's intellectual property group handles a range of disputes, including patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret litigation. Based on the provided case list, the firm's recent patent litigation appearances have been exclusively on behalf of plaintiffs. The two tracked cases, Ledup Manufacturing Group Ltd v. Seasonal Specialties LLC and Orthosie Systems, LLC v. Track Your Truck, Inc., both show the firm acting as "of counsel" for the plaintiff. The firm's own materials highlight experience across a variety of technology areas, including computer hardware and software, wireless communications, medical devices, and fiber optic technology. Attorneys in the IP group have technical degrees in fields such as electrical engineering, physics, and computer sciences.

Notable Cases and PTAB Practice
The firm's website mentions several successful outcomes, including a Federal Circuit win for an optical technology client and a victory for Blaze Mobile in an IP dispute. The firm also notes its capability in Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) proceedings, such as inter partes reviews (IPRs). For example, attorneys have successfully defended a mobile payment company by persuading the PTAB to deny institution of IPRs filed by Samsung. Another partner's biography highlights experience defending a touchscreen patent against IPRs and winning a multimillion-dollar patent jury verdict. These matters suggest an active practice both in district court and before the USPTO.

Key Partners
The patent litigation practice is led by key partners with significant experience. Lawrence M. Hadley serves as Partner and Chair of the Intellectual Property Department and has been recognized by the Daily Journal as a top IP lawyer. His practice focuses on first-chair trial and appellate work in patent and trade secret litigation across various technology sectors. Jason R. Linger, an associate in the IP department, is a registered patent attorney with experience in district court litigation, Federal Circuit appeals, and IPR proceedings. Stephen Underwood is another key partner, focusing on patent and trade secret litigation in the software, electronics, and biotech industries, with a track record of wins at trial, the Federal Circuit, and the PTAB.