Lee & Hayes

Lee & Hayes, PC is a prominent intellectual property (IP) law firm headquartered in Spokane, Washington, with additional offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Rochester, New York; Seattle, Washington; and a Washington D.C. metro area presence in Vienna, Virginia, along with attorneys working remotely in the Portland, Oregon metro area and Vancouver, Washington. The firm is recognized as an IP boutique, employing over 80 attorneys and patent agents among its more than 140 professionals. Lee & Hayes has been consistently recognized by various industry publications, including U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® as a "Best Law Firm" for Intellectual Property Litigation and Patent Law, and has been listed by IAM Patent 300 & 1000 and IP STARS as a leading IP practitioner. In 2022, the firm was ranked #49 among Top Patent Firms based on utility patents issued.

The firm's patent litigation practice spans a broad range of high-technology sectors, including electronics, computer software and hardware, network technologies, semiconductor technologies, digital media, e-commerce, telecommunications, aerospace, life sciences, and manufacturing. Lee & Hayes' litigators possess expertise across all forms of intellectual property disputes, including patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret matters, and are experienced in both federal trial and appellate courts, as well as the International Trade Commission (ITC).

Lee & Hayes primarily represents operating companies, often defending Fortune 100 clients and other innovative organizations against infringement claims. This defendant-side preference is reflected in their tracked case history, which includes their representation of Microsoft Corp. as lead counsel. While the firm also engages in asserting intellectual property claims and strategic client counseling, its engagements frequently involve defending major technology companies.

A notable case handled by the firm is Walker Digital, LLC v. Microsoft Corp. et al., where Robert J. Carlson served as lead counsel for Microsoft. In this matter, the Federal Circuit affirmed the district court's judgment of non-infringement in favor of Microsoft, demonstrating the firm's capabilities in appellate patent litigation.

Lee & Hayes also possesses a practice before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), indicating their proficiency in administrative patent proceedings in addition to traditional federal court litigation. While the firm's public profile confirms their activity before the PTAB, specific metrics on the volume or outcomes of their IPR/PGR filings are not widely reported. Key partners in the firm's litigation practice include Robert J. Carlson, a Seattle-based partner recognized by Super Lawyers for Intellectual Property, and Rob Peck, a co-managing partner who leads a multi-office team and has significant experience in developing and managing IP portfolios and supporting litigation efforts.