Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi

Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi (often referred to as Robins Kaplan LLP) is a national trial law firm headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with seven additional offices across major U.S. cities, including Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Silicon Valley, Sioux Falls, and Bismarck. The firm operates as a significant player in the legal landscape, recognized as one of the 350 largest law firms in the U.S. by size and among the top 200 based on revenue, with approximately 200 attorneys. Chambers USA acknowledges Robins Kaplan for its "dominant and comprehensive IP practice."

The firm's Intellectual Property and Technology Litigation Group possesses extensive experience across a broad range of technologies. Their expertise spans software, semiconductors, computer equipment, generic pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, telecommunications, industrial machinery, microprocessor design, laser jet printers, MRIs, and cameras. Robins Kaplan lawyers are adept at handling complex IP disputes, including patent infringement cases, Federal Circuit appeals, and strategic intellectual property monetization.

Robins Kaplan's patent litigation practice has a demonstrated track record representing both patent holders and accused infringers. While the firm's internal data shows appearances predominantly on the plaintiff side (two tracked cases as plaintiff, zero as defendant), their public statements and case highlights indicate experience with both plaintiffs and defendants, including successfully defending clients against significant infringement claims. The firm emphasizes its "trial-born knowledge" in patent infringement matters.

Notable cases include the firm's representation of Intellectual Ventures I LLC in a patent infringement suit against Symantec Corporation. Although a jury initially awarded Intellectual Ventures $17 million in damages in 2015 for infringement of security software technologies, rejecting Symantec's invalidity claims, the Federal Circuit later held all three patents invalid as patent-ineligible under 35 U.S.C. § 101 in 2016. Historically, the firm has secured significant plaintiff verdicts, such as a $520.6 million judgment against Microsoft in a web browser technology case and a $400 million settlement for Pitney Bowes Inc. in a laser jet printer patent dispute against Hewlett-Packard. In January 2026, the firm also achieved a $67 million jury verdict in a patent infringement lawsuit related to electronics displays.

The firm maintains an active Patent Office Trials Group, which handles Inter Partes Review (IPR) and Covered Business Method (CBM) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). This group represents both patent owners and petitioners, often in cases with parallel district court actions, leveraging attorneys and Ph.D. scientists registered to practice before the USPTO. Key IP litigation partners at the firm include Munir R. Meghjee, who assists clients with Intellectual Property Litigation, Richard M. Martinez, Chair of the Privacy and Cybersecurity Litigation practice, and Jake Holdreith, recognized by Chambers USA for his work in high-value patent disputes. Former firm leaders Martin R. Lueck (Chairman of the Executive Board, 2008-2019) and Jan M. Conlin (Chair of the Business Litigation Department) were also instrumental in past large-scale patent litigation successes before their departures from the firm in 2020 and 2015, respectively.