Press Release

14 Haynes and Boone Partners Ranked Among World’s Top Patent Lawyers by IAM Patent 1000

July 13, 2021
Haynes Boone and 14 of its partners from California, Colorado, Illinois, Texas and Washington, D.C., were recognized in the 2021 edition of the Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Patent 1000 legal directory.

The publication ranked Haynes Boone in California, Illinois and Texas. It ranked the following partners as best-in-class patent prosecution, litigation, and transactions practitioners in key jurisdictions: Randall Brown, Tom Chen, Randall Colson, Russ Emerson, Ralph Gabric, Alan Herda, Lee Johnston, David McCombs, Greg Michelson, Laura Beth Miller, David O’Brien, David O’Dell, Mark Tidwell and Jeff Wolfson.

In its ninth edition, the IAM Patent 1000 shines a spotlight on firms and individuals deemed outstanding in the patent practice. IAM interviewed more than 1,800 patent lawyers and in-house counsel over a five-month period to determine which firms and lawyers to include in the directory.

IAM researchers wrote: “Haynes Boone doesn’t just go after the juicy disputes – though it certainly handles those in abundance – but practises patent law with uncommon rigour; steeped in the arts of patent procurement and monetisation, as well as litigation and post-grant proceedings, it is a destination of choice for those seeking the efficiency of a one-stop shop.”

Below is a breakdown of regional rankings for the firm and partners, along with comments from researchers.

Texas:

In Texas, the firm is ranked in Litigation; as Highly Recommended in Prosecution one of only four firms in the state to receive this ranking; and for Transactions work. Individual rankings include:

• David McCombs and Russ Emerson (Litigation)
• Randall Brown, Alan Herda, David McCombs, David O’Brien, David O’Dell and Mark Tidwell (Prosecution)
• Randall Colson, David O’Dell and Mark Tidwell (Transactions)

Here is what researchers had to say:

“Key contacts on the non-contentious side include Randall Brown, Mark Tidwell and Alan Herda; more than conducting error-free prosecution, they excel at building strong, coherent international portfolios and giving them commercial impetus. In his focused domain of chemical innovation, Brown conducts detailed and accurate patent landscape analyses and opens the eyes of clients to new and exciting market opportunities. He and agile all-rounder Tidwell serve as primary IP counsel to Halliburton Energy Services for the firm. Herda chairs the IP department and is a sought-after filer, opinion giver, litigation support lawyer and design patents expert. Randall Colson, meanwhile, acquits himself admirably as captain of the technology transactions practice; he’s a pathfinder in complex licensing and settlement negotiations. Haynes Boone’s patent profile has undoubtedly been elevated by David McCombs, David O’Brien and David O’Dell, who form the backbone of one of the most prolific post-grant practices in the country. Awarded special credit – and recommended on each of the IAM Patent 1000 prosecution, litigation and transactions tables – McCombs ‘runs a very well-oiled counselling and post-grant team that is efficient, extremely responsive and highly effective.’

“If you’re looking for a trial lawyer, newly ranked partner Russ Emerson is cited as a ‘direct and articulate first chair:’ “Russ and the Haynes Boone team are responsive and effective, and out-lawyer their opponents through all phases of litigation.”

California:

The firm is Recommended in Prosecution in California. Individual rankings include Tom Chen and Greg Michelson (Prosecution).

Researchers stated: “…the recent effort put in by Orange County-based Tom Chen on behalf of innovators such as Lyft and Qualcomm has only elevated [the firm’s] status. Chen syncs well with engineers and in-house attorneys, and has a fine appreciation of companies’ technologies, legal needs and wider objectives; he leaves no stone unturned to protect his clients in the United States and internationally and help them move their business forward.”

“Greg Michelson – a key member of the Lyft team – takes the lead in handling wide-ranging prosecution, licensing, risk assessment and counselling assignments for Peloton Interactive and FLIR Systems, a world leader in thermal imaging cameras, components and sensors. Nationally, Haynes Boone is a premier prosecution firm according to a number of measures, including volume of applications filed, allowance rate and time to allowance.”

Illinois:

The firm is ranked in Litigation in Illinois. Individual rankings include Ralph Gabric and Laura Beth Miller (Litigation).

Researchers stated: “Haynes Boone has made some astute moves in the recruitment market in the past two years. In 2020, it added former USPTO director Joseph Matal to its bench in D.C. and brought former Kirkland & Ellis partner Eugene Goryunov on board to serve as a local post-grant proceedings leader for the Chicago office. These additions follow those of Ralph Gabric and Laura Beth Miller, who put Haynes Boone on the Chicago patent litigation map in 2019; the firm is thus building a solid local practice that is adding a valuable extra dimension to its superb national offering. Gabric and Miller are seasoned lead counsel who can make a compelling case in any forum and any technological discipline.”

D.C. Metro Area:

Jeff Wolfson was ranked individually in Prosecution. Researchers stated: “Jeffrey Wolfson is the distinguished leader of Haynes Boone’s patent prosecution and counselling practice. His forward-thinking approach to asset procurement and management is informed by a keen understanding of how patents are litigated, paving the way for longer-lasting protection.”

Colorado:

Lee Johnston was ranked individually in Litigation. Researchers stated: “Lee Johnston is an adept trial lawyer called on for representation in fraught commercial and IP cases.”