Steve specializes in intellectual property law. A trial attorney with significant courtroom experience, Steve develops strategic approaches to high stakes litigation in various areas of intellectual property (e.g., patent, copyright, trade secret, and trademark).

Steve also helps clients protect their intellectual property. He counsels clients on new product development and clearance, intellectual property portfolio analysis, due diligence supporting mergers and acquisitions, and certain aspects of data privacy and advertising law.

Steve’s technical experience includes software, automotive technology, integrated circuit and signal processing, navigation and global positioning, mobile and wireless communications, networking, power electronics, recycling and sustainability, medical device and other chemical, mechanical, electrical and computer technology.

Steve has achieved success for clients in the following trial courts and agency: Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of Illinois; Eastern and Western Districts of Texas; Central District of California; Southern District of New York; Western District of Wisconsin; District of Connecticut; Northern District of Georgia and District of Delaware; and the International Trade Commission.

Steve has litigated successful appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He also has litigated before the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board from filing through final written decision as well as before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Patent Litigation Cases

• Represented large automotive manufacturer, microchip manufacturers, and tier-1 automotive suppliers against competitor before ITC in patent infringement case involving GPS technology, resulting in complete victory for clients
• Represented large industrial client in competitor patent infringement cases involving sophisticated analog and digital signal processing technologies and source code, each resulting in successful resolution prior to trial
• Represented automotive manufacturers and suppliers in patent infringement case involving infotainment systems and user interaction with same
• Represented navigation supplier and development company in multiple patent litigation matters related to navigation and self-driving technology
• Represented large cell phone manufacturer in patent infringement case involving Android operating system software and user feedback devices
• Represented two automotive manufacturers in patent infringement cases involving hybrid engine technology, radar systems, occupant sensor systems, and remote keyless entry systems, each resulting in summary judgment of invalidity and non-infringement
• Represented automotive manufacturer in patent infringement case involving electrically coded anti-theft systems, resulting in dismissal of case prior to close of discovery
• Represented automotive manufacturers in various patent infringement cases involving navigation, satellite communication, and diagnostic monitoring technologies, each resulting in successful resolution prior to close of discovery
• Represented another large industrial client in competitor patent infringement case involving circuit design and power supply systems, resulting in successful resolution prior to trial
• Represented multiple large hotel chains in patent infringement cases involving wireless networks and mobile interface technology, each resulting in successful resolution prior to the close of discovery
• Represented mobile phone manufacturer in case involving mobile network, MMS, and SMS technologies, leading to summary judgment of non-infringement before discovery began and an award of attorney fees in client’s favor
• Represented multiple large retailers in patent infringement case involving internet payment technology, resulting in successful resolution, including invalidation of patents, prior to close of discovery
• Represented large industrial client in patent infringement case involving chemical additives in plastics, resulting in invalidation of asserted patents
• Represented start-up client in patent infringement case involving social networking technology, resulting in successful resolution early in discovery
• Represented medical device manufacturer in patent infringement case involving biopsy technology, resulting in summary judgment of non-infringement, affirmance on appeal, and denial of opposing party’s petition for writ of certiorari

Copyright Matters

• Represented large licensing organization in multiple copyright infringement actions, each resulting in successful resolution—one through trial and post-trial proceedings and one at summary judgment stage
• Lead attorney on acquisition and sublicensing of 100-plus copyright licenses to support new product development

Criminal Cases

• Represented client as lead counsel in habeas corpus case through Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and in petition for writ of certiorari to U.S. Supreme Court, including drafting all briefs and motions, taking oral and written discovery, and conducting oral argument
• Represented client in appeal of criminal conviction to Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in case involving Fourth Amendment issues

• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
• U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office