Chad Pannell

PRACTICE AREAS

  • Patent Litigation
  • Appellate Representation
  • Inter partes reviews (PTAB)
  • Intellectual Asset Portfolio Management
  • Technology Licensing

Bar Admissions

  • Georgia

Court Admissions

  • Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
  • US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • US Dist. Ct. (ND Ga.)
  • All State and Superior Courts of Georgia
  • US Dist. Ct. (MD Ga.)

Awards & Honors

  • Super Lawyers Georgia Rising Star – IP Litigation, 2009, 2011­–2016, 2009
  • Intellectual Asset Management 2017 IP Star
  • Georgia Trend Legal Elite for Intellectual Property Law, 2012, 2017, 2019
  • Linn Inn Alliance Distinguished Service Medal, 2014
  • Federal Circuit Bar Association service recognition, 2010, 201

Education

  • University of Georgia, J.D. (2004) magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
  • Georgia Institute of Technology, B.Ch.E. with high honors, 1999

Charles A. “Chad” Pannell III

Partner
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Chad Pannell joined AddyHart P.C. as a partner in May 2020 with more than fifteen years as an outside counsel, most recently at an AmLaw 100 firm. He has extensive experience in all aspects of patent, trademark and trade secrets litigation, including trials in US district courts across the country, at the US ITC and before the PTAB.

Pannell focuses his practice on technology litigation and intellectual property disputes involving patent, trade secrets, trademarks, false advertising, and copyrights. He advises clients about IP litigation and strategies for enforcing their rights. He has appeared before courts all over the US, including US District Courts in California, Texas, Delaware, Georgia, Washington and New York, in the US International Trade Commission, and before the US Court of Federal Claims.

Pannell has managed all aspects of litigation for companies large and small, from discovery to jury trials and appeals. In addition to many successful settlements and judgments, he successfully litigated a three-week patent infringement jury trial on internet network security devices and a two-week patent infringement bench trial on microbial cleaning.

A chemical engineer before attending law school, Pannell’s experience in intellectual property law now encompasses a wide range of technologies across industry, including avionics, military technologies, computer software and hardware, geospatial positioning systems (GPS), mobile applications and Internet technologies, energy efficiency and “green” technologies, textiles, telecommunications, metals refining and processing, industrial equipment and processes, chemicals, medical and medical monitoring devices, and 3D printing and printing technologies.

In addition to his extensive experience in litigation, Pannell advises companies on protecting patent portfolios and performs due diligence to help them avoid IP disputes. He has developed methods of reviewing and analyzing hundreds of patents for clients on a cost-effective basis.

Prior to joining AddyHart, Pannell was Counsel at an AmLaw 100 law firm in Atlanta; before that he was an IP litigation associate in another Atlanta firm. Prior to that, he was a law clerk to Judge Arthur J. Gajarsa on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington DC. He previously was a law clerk to Judge Stanley F. Birch on the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta.

Prior to attending law school, Pannell worked as an Engineer at Honeywell International, Inc. in Richmond, Virginia, where he was involved in research and development for nylon polymer products, and as a Co-op Environmental Engineer for Delta Air Lines, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia.

Pannell was recognized as a Georgia “Rising Star” in 2009 and most recently in 2016 and the five years immediately preceding in the area of Intellectual Property Litigation by Super Lawyers magazine. He was named a 2017 “IP Star” by Managing Intellectual Property magazine, and was recognized as one of Georgia Trend’s “Legal Elite” for Intellectual Property Law in 2012, 2017, and 2019. He is a recipient of the Linn Inn Alliance Distinguished Service Medal in 2014 for his outstanding service over the past several years in helping to bring the American Inn of Court experience to the intellectual property community, and he was recognized in 2010 and 2011 by the Federal Circuit Bar Association for his pro bono activity in the Circuit community. Pannell is a longtime volunteer and leader at Boy Scouts of America as a Cubmaster, Adult Leader Trainer and Troop Committee member, and he is involved in district fundraising.

Pannell earned his J.D. magna cum laude at the University of Georgia on 2004 and a B.S. in chemical engineering with high honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1999.

  • Professional Memberships

    • American Intellectual Property Law Association, New Lawyer’s Committee Co-Chair (2010-2012)
    • Atlanta IP Inn of Court, Founder and President (2017-2018)
    • Federal Circuit Bar Association, MSPB Pro Bono Committee Member (2009-2012)
    • Bleckley Inn of Court, Barrister (2009-2011)
    • Federal Bar Association
    • Georgia Bar Association, IP Section, CAFC to Atlanta Committee Chair (2009-2011)
    • Georgia Bar Association, Young Lawyer’s Division IP Committee, Co-Chair (2007-2009)
    • AIPLA Watson Writing Competition, Judge, 2008 and 2009

  • Representative Cases

    Thales Visionix, Inc. v. United States (Ct. of Fed. Cl.) – Representing patent owner, Thales, in patent infringement suit against the United States for motion tracking system in military helmets used in the F-35 aircraft.  Litigation has been decided in Thales’s favor in two appeals and a decision at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.  Case is currently pending.

    RideApp, Inc. v. Lyft, Inc., (Fed. Cir.). Represent appellant on appeal of a summary judgment decision relating to section 112 indefiniteness regarding mobile applications for location tracking and ride hailing systems. Case is currently pending.

    Mexichem Amanco Holding S.A. v. Honeywell Int’l. Inc. (Fed. Cir.). Represent appellant on appeal of a decision of the PTAB upholding a patent related to hydrofluorocarbons (HFO) refrigerants in automobile air-conditioning systems. Case is currently pending.

    Honeywell Int’l. Inc. v. Mexichem Amanco Holding S.A. (Fed. Cir.). Represent appellee on two appeals of PTAB decisions invalidating patents related to HFO refrigerants used in air-conditioning systems. Case is currently pending.

    Triple T Enterprises v. KFC (D. Idaho). Representing trademark owner, Triple T Enterprises, in suit against KFC for infringement of “Smoky Mountain” trademark rights. Case is currently pending.

    MModal v. Nuance (N.D. Ga.). Representing defendant and counterclaim plaintiff in multi-patent infringment litigation over voice recognition technology for the medical industry. Case is currently pending.

    Gebo Cermex, Inc. v. ACMI USA, Inc. (N.D. Ga.). Representing patent owner, Gebo Cermex, in assertion of patent infringement related to bottling conveyor systems.  Case is currently pending.

    Arconic v. Novelis (E.D. Penn.). Represented Defendant Novelis in trade secret misappropriation case brought by its primary competitor regarding chemical bonding treatment used for automotive aluminum (most notably on the Ford F-150).  Case is currently pending on various grounds, but trade secret claims were rejected on a summary judgment.

    Corus Realty Holdings, Inc. v. Zillow Inc. (W.D. Wash.). Represented patent owner, Corus Realty, in patent infringement litigation relating to mobile applications and GPS location technology for conducting real estate searching and listing. Pending.

    Adidas v. Under Armour (D. Del.). Represented patent owner adidas in an infringement suit against its competitor for infrigement of large portfolio of patents covering mobile fitness tracking software applications.  Litigation resulted in extensive deiscovery in the U.S. and Europe.  Case resulted in favorable claim construction, summary judgment denials, and settlment.

    RealTek Semiconductor Corp. v. LSI Corp. (N.D. Cal.). Represented patent owner in breach of contract suit regarding wireless internet technology, which resulted in the first jury trial in the country to set the royalty rate for standard essential patents.

    Merial, Inc. v. True Science Holdings, LLC (M.D. Ga.). Defended True Science Holdings in false advertising and breach of contract suit.  Plaintiff requested a preliminary injunction that was denied after an extensive evidentiary hearing.

    Adidas v. ASICS (D. Del.). Represented patent owner adidas in an infringement suit against competitor for infringement of large portfolio of patents covering mobile fitness tracking software applications.  Case favorably settled.

    Wi-Lan v. Toshiba (S.D. Fla.). Represented patent owner in patent infringement suit over television display technology that went from filing to trial in one year that included over 40 depositions including ten multi-day and multi-lingual depositions in Japan and Korea. Managed all substantive infringement, invalidity, and technical issues in the case, including all technical experts.

    Chemfree Corp. v. J. Walter, Inc. (N.D. Ga. & Fed. Cir.). Successfully defended J. Walter from patent infringement claims related to microbial cleaning.  After bench trial, all asserted patent claims were held invalid for obviousness.

    SRI International v. Internet Security Systems, Inc. (D. Del. & Fed. Cir.). Defended Internet Security Systems in patent jury trial and appeal regarding Internet monitoring and intrusion detection security software.  Obtained verdict and judgment of non-infringement on three asserted patents that was affirmed on appeal.

    Flash3D v. Facebook (D. Del.). Represented Facebook in defending against patent assertion related to website organization.  Case settled favorably.

    Taylor v. IBM (E.D. Tex). Counsel for defendant IBM in a patent infringement suit concerning software optimization patent that resulted in a summary judgment of patent invalidity and favorable settlement.

    Valmet, Inc. v. Andritz (USA) Inc. (N.D. Ga.). Defended Andritz in patent infringement and breach of contract assertion related to dust collection patent technology.  Case settled favorably.

    NXEGEN, LLC v. Comverge, Inc. (D. Conn.). Defended smart grid technology provider in patent infringement suit that resulted in the grant of multiple motions to dismiss and ultimately a favorable settlement.

    Black Diamond Inc. v. Salewa North America (D. Utah). Represented defendant accused of infriging patent to rock climbing equipment.  Case settled favorably.

    In re Katz Interactive Call Processing Patent Litigation (Multi-District Litigation). Represented defendants Cox Communications and Earthlink in multi-district patent litigation over call processing technology.

    Hayes v. L3 Communications (S.D.N.Y.). Represented principal manufacturer of flight data recorders (a/k/a “black boxes”) in patent infringement suit regarding fire retardant insulations used in its products.  Settled favorably after discovery.

    Riley Power v. DTE Energy Services (N.D. Ga.). Defended power provider against copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation claims regarding coal-to-wood burning power plant conversion technology.  Case settled favorably.

    Easy IP Licenses, LLC v. New Point Media Group (W.D.W. Va.). Sussessfully defended New Point Media Group and its customers in a patent infringement suit regarding online real estate advertising.  Case was voluntarily dismissed by plaintiff.

    Honeywell v. United States (Ct. Fed. Cl. & Fed. Cir.). Defended defense contractor in patent infringement suit against United States related to night vision goggles and aircraft display systems.

  • Speaking Engagements

    • Panelist, Top Patent Cases 2014, Georgia Bar Association IP Section, September 19, 2014 (Amelia Island, FL)
    • “The Trouble with Trolls: What’s Broke and How Can It Be Fixed.” Association of Corporate Counsel. 9 Oct 2013. (Online)
    • “Post-trial and Appeal Best Practices.” Sedona Conference Meeting on Patent Litigation Best Practices. Washington, DC. 9 Sept 2013.
    • Lumpkin Inn of Court. Atlanta, Ga. March 2013.
    • Northern District Technology Seminar. Federal Bar Association Meeting, Atlanta, Ga. Feb 2013.
    • “America Invents Act Changes to Patent Law, North American Sports, Entertainment and IP Law Conference. Cancun, Mex. Nov 2012.
    • “iPad for Intellectual Property Litigators and Prosecutors.” American Intellectual Property Law Association. Nov 2012. (Online).
    • Court 101. Atlanta Bar Association Springposium. Barnsley Gardens, Ga. Apr 2012.
    • “Life, Law, & the Pursuit of Happiness.” Young Lawyers Panel American Intellectual Property Law Association. Las Vegas, Nev. Jan 2012.
    • “From the Court’s Perspective.” Atlanta Bar Association Springposium. Barnsley Gardens, Ga. Apr 2011.
    • Federal Circuit Briefing, Georgia Bar Association. Atlanta, Ga. 3 Nov 2010.
    • “What Does It Take To Become A Leader?” AIPLA Annual Meeting. Washington DC. 21 Oct 2010.
    • “From a Clerk’s Perspective.” Biotechnology Industry Organization (“BIO”) Intellectual Property Counsel’s Fall Conference & Committee Meeting. Washington DC. 27 Oct 2009.
    • “Recent Cases in Patent Law.” BIO Intellectual Property Counsel’s Fall Conference & Committee Meeting. New York. 2 Oct 2007.
    • “Eye on the Supreme Court: Key Patent Cases Before the Supreme Court and Their Impact on Pharmaceutical Patent Life Cycles.” American Conference Institute’s Maximizing Pharmaceutical Patent Life Cycles Conference. San Francisco. 5 Jun 2007.
    • From a Clerk’s Perspective. BIO Intellectual Property Counsel’s Spring Conference & Committee Meeting. San Diego. 1 Feb 2007.

  • Publications

    • Co-Author. Sedona Conference Patent Litigation Best Practices Guide 2013–2014.
    • “iPad for Intellectual Property Litigators and Prosecutors.” American Intellectual Property Law Association. Nov 2012.
    • Jeffrey I.D. Lewis, Charles Pannell & Yeen C. Tham, KSR’s Impact – Did the Brake Pedal Work?, AIPLA Annual Meeting. Oct 2010.
    • Giles S. Rich Memorial Moot Court Competition Problem. AIPLA. 2009, 2010, 2011.
    • Scott A. Stinebruner & Charles A. Pannell, III. “Patent Prosecution Tips for Green Technology.” AIPLA Annual Meeting. Oct 2009.
    • Chad Pannell. “Where to File? How Congress is Reshaping the Decisions About Where to File Patent Litigation.” The IPC Legal Browser of the Federal Bar Association1 (Fall 2009).
    • Shane Nichols & Chad Pannell. “2007 Patent Law Reform.” Published for the 19th Annual Southern Regional Entertainment & Sports Law Conference ‘s 13th Annual Intellectual Property Law Institute.