Shelton Coburn

Shelton Coburn LLP is an intellectual property and technology law firm based in Austin, Texas. The firm describes itself as a boutique, established by founders with over 25 years of experience in larger law firms, aiming to provide cost-effective and flexible legal services to an international client base including Fortune 100 technology companies, publicly-traded foreign companies, and startups.

The firm's patent litigation practice spans various technology areas, including processor and computer architecture, software, networks and communication protocols, and semiconductors. Their expertise, as indicated by tracked cases, also extends to enterprise systems and potentially agricultural technology. Shelton Coburn handles patent disputes in district courts across the U.S., the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).

Shelton Coburn primarily defends operating companies in patent litigation. The firm's tracked appearances show a clear preference, having represented defendants in all four recorded cases and no plaintiffs. This focus includes "pre-litigation assertion defensive analysis for operating companies."

Notable cases where Shelton Coburn has appeared as defense counsel include One-E-Way, Inc. v. Dell Technologies Inc. et al., Intellectual Ventures I LLC et al. v. Deere & Co., and Wapp Tech Limited Partnership et al. v. Micro Focus International, PLC. While specific public outcomes for One-E-Way v. Dell (filed in late 2024) and Intellectual Ventures v. Deere (filed in early 2026) are not yet widely reported, the firm's website highlights its experience in trying cases to verdict and handling appeals before the Federal Circuit. In Wapp Tech v. Micro Focus, a jury verdict of $172.5 million against Micro Focus was reported, although the firm's specific role in the outcome is not detailed in public search results.

The firm actively engages in PTAB/IPR practice, offering services for inter partes and post-grant reviews. They also prosecute patent applications and provide counsel on licensing, portfolio strategy, and due diligence, performing these transactional engagements with an eye towards potential disputes.

Key partners leading the IP litigation practice include Barry Kenneth Shelton and Bradley Dalton Coburn, both co-founders of the firm. Barry Shelton has served as lead counsel in a substantial number of patent cases in the Western District of Texas and has expertise across electrical engineering disciplines. Bradley Coburn litigates a range of intellectual property cases, with significant experience in the Western District of Texas. Both partners are recognized by Best Lawyers for their work in Litigation - Intellectual Property and Litigation - Patent.