People / Debbie McComas
McComas Debbie

Debbie J. McComas

Partner | Chair – Federal Circuit Practice Group | Co-Chair – Community Engagement Committee Dallas

Biography

Debbie McComas is a litigator and appellate lawyer with 29 years of experience spanning a broad array of subjects. Be it oil and gas, complicated jurisdictional disputes, lender liability, real estate, trade secrets, foreign sovereignty, or patent infringement, Debbie is deeply invested in helping her clients achieve positive results.

Debbie is particularly active in patent appeals and is currently ranked third in overall performance in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Patexia’s CAFC Intelligence Report, a ranking that results from a long, successful career of patent litigation experience. Debbie was admitted to the Federal Circuit in 1998 and has been active in patent litigation and appeals throughout her career. She is active in the Federal Circuit Bar Association and speaks frequently on the status of the court.

Debbie’s success in patent litigation and appeals derives from almost three decades of broader experience as a litigation and appellate practitioner across the nation. Debbie has argued before the Texas Supreme Court, petitioned the United States Supreme Court, and defended foreign sovereigns from multiple continents. She has also defended national financial institutions in adversary proceedings involving billions of dollars and managed countless contract disputes.

Whether before a federal district court in the Southern District of New York or West Texas, Debbie dedicates herself to her clients and brings practical solutions to uncommon problems.

A consummate advocate, Debbie is also dedicated to her community. She is proud to serve as co-chair of Haynes Boone’s Community Engagement Committee. She is honored to have received the Light of Justice Award from the Texas Defender Service for her pro bono achievements in the death penalty arena. And she serves on the steering committee for the Women of Tocqueville Society of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, where she recently received the Give Award.

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  • Obtained reversal of a PTAB Final Written Decision of patentability, securing a remand to allow the petitioner to challenge the patent claims on obviousness grounds
  • Representation of oil and gas company in patent infringement jury trial in the Northern District of Texas
  • Representation of property developer in contract dispute involving claimed damages in excess of $100 million
  • Representation of lender in $2.5 billion lender liability lawsuit stemming from the bankruptcy of Adelphia Communications Corporation and its subsidiaries
  • Representation of global chemical manufacturer in various disputes involving supply agreements
  • Successfully argued case of first impression regarding shareholder derivative actions to the Texas Supreme Court
  • Successfully argued for and obtained affirmance of dozens of PTAB Final Written Decisions finding patent claims unpatentable
  • Representation of gas well operator and owner in arbitration seeking damages from service company that damaged well during cement operations
  • Representation of oil and gas operator’s interests in lawsuit over joint operating agreement
  • Representation of lenders in various lawsuits involving oil and gas interests
  • Representation of real estate interests in property disputes
  • Representation of foreign corporations in trade secrets disputes
  • Representation of creditors in judgment enforcement proceedings, including enforcement of a more than $100 million judgment against an Indonesian corporation
  • Representation of Cayman Islands bank in West Texas lender liability lawsuit, successfully affirming dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction
     
  • Member, ChIPs
  • United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Women of Tocqueville Steering Committee
  • Federal Circuit Bar Association (2008-present), Model Patent Jury Charge Sub-Committee Member (2008-2009)
  • Co-Chair, Dallas Bar Association Judiciary Committee (2006)
  • Recognized in Patexia's CAFC Intelligence Report as third in overall performance, 2024
  • Recognized in Patexia's CAFC Intelligence Report as Top 5 most active representing appellees, 2023
  • Recognized in Patexia's CAFC Intelligence Report as the 4th most active representing appellees, 2022
  • Recognized in Patexia’s CAFC Intelligence Report as the eight most active attorney representing appellees and eleventh most active overall, 2021
  • Recognized as a "Legal Lion" by Law360 for a defense victory in an intellectual property trial in the Eastern District of Texas, 2019
  • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Woodward/White, Inc., for Appellate Practice, 2020-2025, Commercial Litigation, 2022-2025, Litigation- Intellectual Property, 2023-2025
  • Honored with the Texas Defender Service Light of Justice Award, 2014

Education

J.D., Tulane University, 1995, cum laude; Managing Editor, Tulane Maritime Law Journal; Associate Justice, Tulane Moot Court Board

B.A., Austin College, 1990, with honors

Languages

French

Admissions

Texas

Court Admissions

United States Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York