Troutman Pepper

Troutman Pepper, now operating as Troutman Pepper Locke following its merger with Locke Lord in January 2025, is a significant presence in the legal industry. The firm is a large, national firm, boasting over 1,600 attorneys across more than 30 offices, including a presence in London. It consistently ranks among the top firms, placing 52nd on The American Lawyer's 2025 Am Law 200 by gross revenue in 2024 and achieving 97 national and statewide practice area rankings in Chambers USA 2025. The firm’s headquarters are not explicitly stated as a single location, but it has a strong national footprint with a significant presence in major U.S. legal markets, including Atlanta.

Troutman Pepper Locke's Intellectual Property practice is comprehensive, offering services in patent litigation, prosecution, counseling, and portfolio management. The firm is experienced across a wide array of technology areas, including biotechnology, energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, manufacturing, consumer products, and software. Their litigators handle disputes involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, and are noted for expertise in high-stakes IP disputes.

The firm demonstrates a balanced approach in its patent litigation, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. According to tracked appearances, the firm has acted as lead counsel for a plaintiff in Cerence Operating Company v. Amazon.com, Inc. et al., a case filed in the Eastern District of Texas concerning conversational AI technology and smart devices. Concurrently, Troutman Pepper Locke has served as lead counsel for a defendant in Greenthread, LLC v. Cirrus Logic, Inc., involving semiconductor memory products in the Western District of Texas. This indicates a versatility in handling patent disputes for both patent owners seeking to enforce their rights and companies defending against infringement allegations.

In terms of notable cases and outcomes, Troutman Pepper Locke recently secured a significant victory in a patent interference proceeding before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) related to foundational CRISPR gene-editing technology. Representing the Broad Institute, MIT, and Harvard, the firm successfully confirmed priority rights for their clients. Beyond district court litigation, the firm also has substantial experience before quasi-judicial agencies such as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). For instance, the Cerence case also involved a concurrent ITC complaint. The firm actively engages in Inter Partes Review (IPR) and Post-Grant Review (PGR) proceedings, providing strategic counsel on navigating PTAB practices and discretionary denials.

Key partners in the IP litigation practice include Charles S. Baker, who served as lead counsel in the Cerence case, and Mark A. Hannemann, lead counsel in the Greenthread matter. Other prominent IP litigators noted in industry rankings and significant cases include Steven Trybus, Wasim Bleibel, and Andrew Zappia, who led the team in the CRISPR PTAB victory, and are involved in discussions on PTAB strategy. Dabney Carr and Robert Angle are also recognized as highly respected figures in intellectual property litigation, frequently handling major patent, copyright, and trademark infringement cases. Alan Clement is noted for his experience in Hatch-Waxman pharmaceutical patent infringement litigations.