Michael Best & Friedrich

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP: Patent Litigation Summary

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP is a full-service, Am Law 200 firm with a significant national presence and origins in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The firm has more than 350 attorneys across offices in states including Wisconsin, Illinois, North Carolina, and Texas. Its intellectual property practice is highly regarded, earning top "Band 1" rankings from Chambers and Partners in Wisconsin. The IP group comprises over 150 lawyers and other professionals, many of whom hold advanced technical degrees and have prior experience as patent examiners.

The firm's patent litigation practice handles a wide spectrum of technologies, including mechanical, electrical, computer science, life sciences, and chemical arts. Michael Best’s website describes a "trial-tested" litigation team that represents clients in federal courts and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). The firm claims a notable success record, including securing an $11+ million judgment for a water heater industry client and, more recently, a jury verdict of nearly $17 million for an automotive sensor company in a willful infringement case.

Based on the firm's own reporting, its practice appears balanced, representing both patent owners in enforcement actions and defendants accused of infringement. The limited available case data shows an appearance as local counsel for the plaintiff in Rare Breed Triggers Inc et al. v. Orion Arms Corp. However, the firm's website and public statements describe extensive experience defending against infringement allegations, including defeating a "bet the company" injunction in a sporting goods case.

Michael Best maintains an active practice before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, representing both patent owners and petitioners in inter partes review (IPR) proceedings. The firm's materials highlight successes in this venue, such as persuading the PTAB to deny IPR institution for a medical device patent owner and, on the petitioner side, securing a reversal of an initial PTAB finding to have claims declared unpatentable. Key partners in the IP litigation practice include Daniel S. Jones, noted for his work in patent infringement lawsuits, and Martin L. Stern, who has experience in a wide variety of IP litigation, including IPRs.