Ward & Smith Law Firm

Ward & Smith Law Firm, likely referring to the Longview, Texas-based trial firm Ward, Smith & Hill, PLLC, is recognized for its high-stakes patent litigation practice, particularly in the Eastern District of Texas. The firm, comprising a team known for extensive trial experience, has established a national reputation in complex commercial and intellectual property claims. While not typically ranked among the largest AmLaw firms, Chambers USA has previously recognized its name partners for their exceptional trial craft in intellectual property litigation.

The firm specializes in patent infringement disputes across diverse technology areas, notably including software registration and electronic payment processing. Its intellectual property litigation practice encompasses representing clients in federal court for patent infringement claims. The firm's representation in the provided case list indicates a primary focus on the plaintiff side, with all four tracked appearances being on behalf of plaintiffs.

Ward & Smith has been involved in significant patent disputes. As local counsel, the firm contributed to securing a $502.6 million patent infringement win against Apple Inc. for infringing on VirnetX's patents related to VPN on Demand and FaceTime technologies. In other notable cases, the firm appeared for Uniloc USA, Inc. in actions such as Uniloc USA, Inc. v. McAfee, Inc. and Uniloc USA, Inc. v. Sega of America, Inc. While Uniloc achieved a $388 million jury verdict against Microsoft in a separate but related software registration patent case (later subject to a new trial on damages), its patent claims in Uniloc USA, Inc. v. Sega of America, Inc. were ultimately found unpatentable in an inter partes review (IPR) affirmed by the Federal Circuit. The firm also represented DataTreasury Corporation in its patent enforcement efforts concerning check imaging technology, appearing in cases like DataTreasury Corporation v. NCR Corp. (which settled) and DataTreasury Corporation v. Bank of America Corporation (which settled during trial). DataTreasury notably secured a $27 million jury verdict (later doubled to $54 million for willful infringement) against other financial institutions in related litigation.

Regarding post-grant proceedings, the firm has experience with the implications of inter partes reviews, as demonstrated by the Federal Circuit's affirmance of IPR decisions against its client in the Uniloc v. Sega matter.

Key partners associated with the firm's patent litigation success, particularly those listed in the provided case appearances, include T. John Ward, Jr. and J. Wesley Hill. Both have been individually recognized by IAM Patent 1000 for their work in intellectual property litigation, with the guide highlighting their capabilities as "eminently capable litigators with exceptional trial craft and great judgment."