Kaufman & Canoles

Kaufman & Canoles, P.C. is a regional full-service business law firm headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, with seven offices spanning Virginia and North Carolina. The firm, which traces its origins to 1919, operates with nearly 100 attorneys and is recognized as the largest law firm headquartered in Southeastern Virginia. Kaufman & Canoles has received recognition in the 2025 Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business and was named to the 2026 U.S. News - Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" list, with Tier 1 rankings in Norfolk for both "Litigation - Intellectual Property" and "Litigation - Patent."

The firm’s Intellectual Property Law Litigation Practice Group handles a broad range of technology areas, evidenced by its involvement in cases concerning education software (Sampo IP, LLC v. Blackboard, Inc. et al.), network threat detection and cybersecurity (Centripetal Networks, LLC v. Palo Alto Networks, Inc.), and internet software/information filtering (I/P Engine, Inc. v. AOL, Inc. et al.). Their IP attorneys advise clients on patent, trademark, and copyright prosecution, manage IP portfolios, and litigate disputes in various forums. The firm's practice description highlights its litigation experience across diverse industries, including software and pharmaceuticals.

Kaufman & Canoles primarily serves as local counsel in patent litigation. Of the three tracked patent cases, the firm appeared twice on the defendant side and once on the plaintiff side. Their attorneys routinely serve as counsel and co-counsel to major Fortune 500, international, and regional companies, often navigating the procedural complexities of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, known as the "rocket docket."

Notable outcomes for the firm's clients include the Federal Circuit's reversal in I/P Engine, Inc. v. AOL, Inc. et al., where the appellate court found the asserted claims invalid for obviousness, leading to the vacatur of prior district court judgments on damages for defendants including Google and AOL. In Centripetal Networks, LLC v. Palo Alto Networks, Inc., which involved inter partes review (IPR) proceedings, the Federal Circuit vacated a Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) decision on obviousness and remanded the case for further consideration of objective indicia of non-obviousness, such as evidence of copying.

While the firm’s IP litigation practice involves cases that interact with PTAB proceedings, as demonstrated by its role in Centripetal Networks, LLC v. Palo Alto Networks, Inc., its public profile does not detail a high-volume IPR/PGR filing or defense practice. However, the firm’s Intellectual Property Group states it "aggressively litigate[s] disputes in court and before governmental bodies."

Key partners in the IP litigation practice include Stephen E. Noona, who serves as the head of the Litigation Section and Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property Law Litigation Practice Group. He has nearly 40 years of experience trying complex IP and commercial cases and has appeared in over 125 patent cases. Kristan B. Burch also serves as a Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property group. Mr. Noona is recognized by Chambers USA for Intellectual Property in Virginia: Southern.