Reed Smith

Reed Smith LLP is a global law firm with its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, maintaining over 30 offices across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Recognized as a BigLaw firm, Reed Smith was ranked #37 on The American Lawyer's 2025 Am Law 200 and employs over 1,600 lawyers globally.

The firm's intellectual property litigation practice is distinguished by its sophisticated handling of complex patent disputes, particularly within the high technology and life sciences sectors. Reed Smith's expertise spans electronics, computers, software, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, scientific equipment, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and has also extended to mechanical and energy industry technologies, such as downhole gas and sand separators. The firm predominantly defends operating companies, with tracked cases showing 10 appearances on the defendant side compared to 1 on the plaintiff side. [case list]

Reed Smith has been involved in several prominent patent litigation matters. Notably, the firm secured significant victories for Keysight Technologies, Inc. against Centripetal Networks, LLC, where the Federal Circuit affirmed the ITC's decision finding no violation and upheld PTAB rulings that invalidated most claims of Centripetal's patents, including cross-appeals on surviving claims. In a separate, high-profile case involving Centripetal Networks, LLC v. Palo Alto Networks, Inc. et al., a federal jury awarded Centripetal $151.5 million against Palo Alto Networks for cybersecurity patent infringement, a verdict Palo Alto Networks plans to appeal, with Reed Smith acting as defense counsel. Additionally, Reed Smith obtained a complete dismissal of patent infringement and breach of contract claims on summary judgment for Q2 Artificial Lift Services LLC in a dispute concerning oil industry technology.

The firm demonstrates a robust practice before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), frequently engaging in Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings. Reed Smith represented ZyXEL Communications Corporation as a petitioner in IPRs challenging patent validity and achieved substantial success for Keysight Technologies in PTAB decisions, invalidating 185 claims across eight patents. The firm actively provides insights and strategic guidance on PTAB and IPR developments, including navigating discretionary denial procedures.

Key partners leading the firm's IP litigation practice include Peter J. Chassman, who chairs the firmwide Intellectual Property Group and specializes in high-tech patent, trade secret, and commercial litigation. Jonah D. Mitchell, based in San Francisco, is recognized for his success in technology, medical, and industrial patent litigation trials and settlements. Gerard M. Donovan frequently serves as lead and appellate counsel in complex patent disputes, including the Centripetal Networks cases. [case list, cite: 13] Robert Riddle, located in Houston, is an experienced IP litigator known for his work in chemistry, life sciences, and energy sector cases.