Intellectual Property &
Commercial Litigation
AddyHart’s attorneys have a breadth of experience in both intellectual property and civil litigation, ranging from advising clients before filing a lawsuit, to litigation and trials, to preparing and arguing appeals in state and federal courts, and, where necessary, to mediation and arbitration in the U.S. and internationally.
We have helped clients to negotiate favorable settlements, secure multi-million-dollar jury verdicts, and enforce their intellectual property rights.
trusted trial counsel for complex ip and business disputes – from early strategy to final verdict.
experience matters
Our attorneys are admitted to practice in numerous state and federal venues, including in U.S. district courts, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board of the U.S.P.T.O., regional U.S. Courts of Appeals, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. We have successfully represented clients in intellectual property cases in a range of technical and life sciences sectors, as well as in contract disputes and other civil cases against competitors, business partners, municipalities and other government entities such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Defense.
Firm co-founder Meredith Addy formerly chaired the national patent litigation practice at an AmLaw 100 law firm, chaired the appellate practice at one of the nation’s largest IP law firms, and was Office Managing Partner for another AmLaw100 firm. Addy has handled more than 80 federal district court cases and has handled more than 100 appeals to the Federal Circuit.
Co-founder Robert Hart brings decades of experience in private practice as well as serving as Chief Intellectual Property counsel for one of the world’s largest Tier 1 specialty automotive electronics companies. Hart handles complex patent, trademark, and copyright litigations. Hart also specializes in entertainment law, complex contractual disputes, and cases involving rights of personality, in particular for clients in the entertainment business.
ip law
AddyHart serves innovative companies by helping them to protect and monetize their intellectual property. The legal climate for innovators has become more difficult in recent years, in particular due to legislation such as the 2011 Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) and Supreme Court decisions affecting in particular innovations in science and technology. Therefore, it has become still more important for your legal team to be armed with both the passion and experience to effectively secure and defend your intellectual property—and to provide strategic advice on how to grow.
Our attorneys boast backgrounds in a wide range of technical areas, including in the chemical sector, petroleum engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace, and software. We have a proven record of success in protecting innovations across a range of technologies, including in avionics, digital communications, and in the automotive, and bioengineering sectors.
Equally importantly, we are passionate about protecting innovators and their inventions. We fight hard for our clients’ interests—and we are successful at it.
Patent Litigation and Appeals
AddyHart specializes in handling all aspects of complex IP litigation: from discovery and pre-trial motions practice to claim construction, Markman hearings and summary judgment proceedings through to settlement or, if necessary, trial.
Our attorneys have a wealth of experience as both outside and in-house counsel in multi-million-dollar patent disputes. We represent patent owners, patent challengers, and amici before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, at the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board, in the U.S. district courts, at the Court of Federal Claims, and before the Supreme Court of the United States.
Practice chair Meredith Addy—former chair of the national patent litigation practice at an AmLaw100 firm, and former chair of the national appellate practice at one of the nation’s largest IP law firms—has led more than 30 federal district court cases and more than 40 appeals to the Federal Circuit.
post-grant review proceedings
AddyHart’s attorneys have decades of experience with proceedings before the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board and its predecessor court, including interference proceedings and post-grant review. Our attorneys have represented generic pharmaceutical companies in parallel proceedings in both the district courts and the PTAB, and we are accustomed to adopting inter partes review as a strategic tool.
pharmaceuticals & biotechnology
Members of AddyHart’s team have worked successfully with various life sciences companies and have been involved in litigation and licensing of dozens of pharmaceutical and biotechnology products. We have handled many pharmaceutical trials and Federal Circuit appeals, gaining insights that provide us with an understanding of the legal, regulatory, and business considerations involved when bringing such products to market.
anda/hatch-waxman litigation
AddyHart’s attorneys have successfully represented clients in numerous complex pharmaceutical patent litigations. Members of our team have defeated patents on multiple blockbuster drugs, including Restasis®, Latisse®, and Effient®. Our collective technical abilities, legal knowledge, and courtroom experience result in an unparalleled team for our clients during all stages of litigation. Our record of pretrial, trial, and settlement successes reflects our ability in this complex field.
Download our Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology brochure.
Patent Drafting and Prosecution
We help clients effectively build and manage their IP portfolios, drafting patents and providing portfolio management and monetization strategies related to patent prosecution, opinion letters with respect to validity and/or infringement issues, freedom-to-operate matters, and conflict avoidance.
Intellectual Asset Portfolio Management
Our team is experienced in assisting clients with strategic decisions related to protecting and monetizing corporate intellectual property portfolios. In particular, Addy and Hart collaborated—he as Chief IP counsel and she as outside counsel—on patent portfolio strategies for one of the world’s largest Tier 1 specialty automotive electronics companies, prioritizing key patents in a 5,000+ patent portfolio.
Trademark Protection
Protecting valuable trademarks, service marks, registered product marks and other related intellectual property has become vitally important in the global knowledge economy. Our attorneys work to protect your trademarks and brands domestically and overseas.
Our services include trademark prosecution at the USPTO and throughout the world, litigation before the USPTO’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) and counsel related to claims of false advertising, unfair competition, and counterfeiting.
Trade Secrets
Misappropriation and misuse by others of your proprietary information can have devastating effects on your business. AddyHart’s attorneys develop and implement trade secret programs to give you a competitive advantage that can outlast other forms of IP protection, providing a blanket of protection that can be used in court if needed.
Technology Licensing
Through our varied backgrounds, the attorneys at AddyHart have developed a wealth of experience in negotiating technology licenses, drafting joint-venture agreements, and assisting with other contracts and agreements.