Counsel registry

Ward, Smith & Hill

60 case appearances — 53 as plaintiff counsel · 7 as defendant counsel.

Firm overview

Firm Summary: Ward, Smith & Hill, PLLC

Date: 2026-04-30

Based in Longview, Texas, Ward, Smith & Hill, PLLC was a well-regarded litigation boutique with a national reputation for trial work, particularly in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The firm handled high-stakes, complex litigation, with a significant focus on intellectual property law. Notably, the firm's founding partners Johnny Ward, Bruce Smith, and Wesley Hill concluded their full-time trial practices, leading to the firm's renaming to Miller Fair Henry PLLC. Key legal figures, including former U.S. District Judge T. John Ward, remain associated with the successor firm as of counsel.

The firm was recognized as a powerhouse in patent litigation, frequently serving as local or lead counsel for plaintiffs in the Eastern District of Texas. The authoritative case list shows the firm acting as local counsel for plaintiffs. This plaintiff-side focus is further evidenced by numerous high-value verdicts secured for patent holders against major technology and pharmaceutical companies. The firm's IP practice spans a range of technologies, including telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, software, and consumer electronics, as demonstrated by their representation of clients like Seagen Inc. in a case concerning cancer treatment patents and KPN N.V. in a dispute over telecommunications infrastructure.

Ward, Smith & Hill was known for securing significant courtroom victories. In 2022, the firm obtained two of the largest IP verdicts in Texas: a $41.8 million verdict for Seagen Inc. against Daiichi Sankyo Co. and a $31.5 million verdict for KPN N.V. against Ericsson. The firm also served as local counsel in a trial that resulted in a $502.8 million patent infringement win for VirnetX against Apple Inc. and a $62.7 million award for Solas OLED Ltd. against Samsung. Attorneys at the firm, then known as Miller Fair Henry, were also instrumental in securing a $166.3 million jury verdict for Finesse Wireless against AT&T in 2023, which related to 4G/LTE and 5G wireless network technology.

The firm's patent litigation practice was led by highly-regarded trial lawyers. Key partners included J. Wesley Hill and T. John "Johnny" Ward, Jr. The firm's legacy is deeply connected to former U.S. District Judge T. John Ward, who, after retiring from the bench, joined the firm as of counsel and focused on patent and complex commercial cases. Wesley Hill, a former clerk for Judge Ward, has been counsel in over 1,100 cases and has tried more than 30 cases to verdict. While the firm's principals have transitioned their practices toward mediation and consulting, their reputation was built on district court trial work. A significant practice before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) is not noted in public sources.

Attorneys

Roles

local counsel49
Local Counsel36
lead counsel8
Of Counsel5
of counsel4
lead or co-lead trial counsel2
counsel1
Lead Counsel1
Of Counsel / Local Counsel1
Attorney1

Cases (60)

π plaintiffABC IP, LLC et al. v. MaRs Trigger, LLC et al.T. John Ward · lead counsel
π plaintiffAlpha Modus Corp v. Circle K Stores IncJohnny Ward · local counsel
π plaintiffAlpha Modus Corp. v. Best Buy Co., Inc.Johnny Ward · local counsel
π plaintiffAlpha Modus Corp. v. Mood Media, LLCT. John Ward, Jr. · Local Counsel
π plaintiffAlpha Modus, Corp. v. Buc-ee's, Ltd.T. John Ward Jr. · Local Counsel
π plaintiffAlpha Modus, Corp. v. Circle KT. John Ward, Jr. · Local Counsel
π plaintiffAlpha Modus, Corp. v. The Kroger Co.Johnny Ward · local counsel
π plaintiffArlington Technologies, LLC v. Comcast Cable Communications, LLCT. John Ward, Jr. · lead counsel
π plaintiffAthena Security, LLP v. Cisco Systems, Inc.T. John Ward, Jr. · Local Counsel
π plaintiffAtlas Global Technologies LLC v. Amazon.com, Inc. et al.J. Wesley Hill · local counsel
π plaintiffAtlas Global Technologies LLC v. CommScope, Inc. et al.Johnny Ward · local counsel
π plaintiffAtlas Global Technologies LLC v. TP-Link Corporation Limited et al.Johnny Ward · local counsel
Δ defendantAtlas Global Technologies LLC v. Valve CorporationJ. M. "Johnny" Ward, Jr. · local counsel
Δ defendantAutoConnect Holdings LLC v. General Motors CompanyT. John Ward Jr. · local counsel
π plaintiffAutonavigare LLC v. Toyota Motor Corporation et al.Johnny Ward · Local Counsel
Δ defendantBSH Home Appliances Corporation v. Whirlpool CorporationJohnny Ward · lead counsel
π plaintiffBunker Hill Technologies LLC v. Toyota Motor North America Inc. et al.Johnny Ward · Local Counsel
π plaintiffCedarwood Ventures Inc v. Apple IncJ. Wesley Hill · lead counsel
π plaintiffContentNexus LLC v. JustWatch GMBHT. John Ward, Jr. · local counsel
π plaintiffContentNexus LLC v. Konka Group Co LtdT. John Ward, Jr. · Local Counsel
π plaintiffCyberfone Systems, LLC v. The Charles Schwab CorporationT. John Ward, Jr. · local counsel
π plaintiffDatacloud Technologies LLC v. Intuit Inc.T. John "Johnny" Ward Jr. · local counsel
π plaintiffDataTreasury Corporation v. Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.T. John Ward, Jr. · local counsel
π plaintiffDisintermediation Services, Inc. v. The Kroger Co. et al.Wesley Hill · Local Counsel
π plaintiffEgla Corp v. Mood Media LLC et al.Wesley Hill · Local Counsel
π plaintiffEXPRESS MOBILE, INC. v. YETI Coolers, LLCWesley Hill · local counsel
Δ defendantFast IP, LLC et al. v. Skechers U.S.A., Inc.John T. "Johnny" Ward, Jr. · local counsel
π plaintiffFleet Connect Solutions LLC v. Stellantis N.V.Johnny Ward · Local Counsel
π plaintiffFleet Connect Solutions LLC v. T-Mobile US, Inc.Johnny Ward · local counsel
π plaintiffFractus, S.A. v. TCL Communication Technology Holdings, Ltd. et al.Johnny Ward · local counsel
π plaintiffGreenthread, LLC v. OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Jack Wesley Hill · Local Counsel
Δ defendantGreenthread, LLC v. Texas Instruments IncorporatedJack Wesley Hill · Local Counsel
π plaintiffIn re: Rare Breed Triggers Patent LitigationT. John Ward, Jr. · Local Counsel
π plaintiffIOT Innovations LLC v. Fortinet, Inc.Wesley Hill · Local Counsel
π plaintiffIOT Innovations LLC v. Schneider USA IncJ. Wesley Hill · Local Counsel
π plaintiffMarshall Feature Recognition, LLC et al. v. Apple Inc.T. John Ward, Jr. · Lead Counsel
π plaintiffMarshall Feature Recognition, LLC et al. v. Barnes & Noble, Inc.T. John Ward, Jr. · lead or co-lead trial counsel
π plaintiffModulus Systems LLC v. Loytec Electronics GMBHJ. Wesley Hill · local counsel
π plaintiffMonticello Enterprises LLC v. Samsung Electronics America, Inc.T. John Ward, Jr. · Local Counsel
π plaintiffOptimnet LLC v. Cisco Systems, Inc.Johnny Ward · local counsel
π plaintiffOrthosie Systems, LLC v. Mack Trucks, Inc.Thomas John Ward, Jr. · Local Counsel
π plaintiffOrthosie Systems, LLC v. Track Your Truck, Inc.J. Wesley Hill · Local Counsel
π plaintiffPortus Singapore Pte Ltd. v. AXP Group (Vivint)J. Wesley Hill · local counsel
π plaintiffRadiant Patents LLC v. Nokia Corporation et al.T. John Ward · Local Counsel
π plaintiffSamsung Electronics America Inc. et al. v. Topwire LLCT. John Ward · local counsel
Δ defendantTQP Development, LLC v. Callidus Software, Inc.Wesley Hill · Local Counsel
π plaintiffTurboCode LLC v. Dell Technologies Inc. et alT. John Ward, Jr. · lead counsel
π plaintiffUniloc Luxembourg S.A. v. Mojang ABT. John Ward Jr.
π plaintiffUniloc Luxembourg S.A. v. Twitter, Inc.T. John Ward, Jr. · local counsel
Δ defendantUniloc USA, Inc. et al. v. Electronic Arts, Inc.Claire Abernathy Henry · local counsel
π plaintiffUniloc USA, Inc. et al. v. Kaspersky Lab, Inc.T. John Ward, Jr. · local counsel
π plaintiffUniloc USA, Inc. v. Adobe Systems Inc.T. John Ward, Jr. · Local Counsel
π plaintiffUniloc USA, Inc. v. Electronic Arts Inc.T. John Ward, Jr. · local counsel
π plaintiffUniloc USA, Inc. v. Ubisoft, Inc.T. John Ward, Jr. · local counsel
π plaintiffUntitled caseJ. Wesley Hill · local counsel
π plaintiffVB Assets, LLC v. General Motors Holdings LLCJohnny Ward · Local Counsel
π plaintiffVB Assets, LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.T. John Ward, Jr. · Local Counsel
π plaintiffVirnetX Inc. v. Apple Inc.John F. "Johnny" Ward, Jr. · local counsel
π plaintiffVision Works IP Corp. v. Tesla, Inc.J. Wesley Hill · local counsel
π plaintiffX One Inc v. Neighborfavor Inc et al.T. John Ward, Jr. · local counsel