Phillips, McLaughlin & Hall

Phillips, McLaughlin & Hall, P.A. is a Delaware-based law firm with its main office in Wilmington and a satellite location in Dewey Beach. Founded in 1990, the firm specializes in civil litigation, representing a diverse clientele that includes large and small corporations, businesses, insurance companies, and individuals. While not ranked among global or national BigLaw firms, it operates as a regional litigation practice focused on Delaware state and federal courts.

The firm's intellectual property litigation practice primarily involves serving as local counsel in patent disputes within the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, a prominent venue for such cases. John C. Phillips, Jr. leads the firm's intellectual property litigation efforts. The firm's engagements indicate a diverse technological scope, reflecting the general patent litigation landscape in Delaware.

Phillips, McLaughlin & Hall demonstrates experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in patent matters. In the tracked cases, the firm acted as local counsel for Anuvu Corp., a plaintiff seeking declaratory judgment of non-infringement against patent assertion entity Intellectual Ventures I LLC. Simultaneously, the firm also served as local counsel for United Air Lines, Inc., a defendant facing patent infringement allegations from Cyberfone Systems, LLC. This balanced representation suggests versatility in addressing various litigation postures.

A notable outcome includes the District of Delaware's denial of Intellectual Ventures' motion to dismiss in Anuvu Corp. v. Intellectual Ventures I LLC on April 28, 2026, allowing Anuvu's declaratory judgment action to proceed. In Cyberfone Systems, LLC v. United Air Lines, Inc., the firm represented United Air Lines, Inc. in a case that saw appellate activity at the Federal Circuit in 2012, though a specific final outcome for United Air Lines through the firm's involvement is not publicly detailed.

Based on available information, Phillips, McLaughlin & Hall does not prominently feature a specialized practice before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) for Inter Partes Reviews (IPRs) or other post-grant proceedings. The firm's public profile emphasizes its district court litigation capabilities.

John C. Phillips, Jr., a partner and president of the firm, is a key figure in its intellectual property litigation practice, having personally tried over 50 jury trials in Delaware's state and federal courts and served as Delaware counsel in numerous patent and trademark cases. Other partners at the firm include Lisa Cresci McLaughlin and James P. Hall, though their public profiles do not highlight patent litigation as a primary focus.