Intellectual property
Baker Botts L.L.P.’s practice boasts a ‘deep bench of talented lawyers covering all aspects of IP litigation’ who are trusted counsel to leading technology companies like AT&T, Samsung and Mastercard. The team excels in cases before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and is led by four experienced attorneys. In Dallas, Christa Brown-Sanford specializes in electrical patent disputes, while Douglas Kubehl is adept at complex patent litigation in the telecommunications sector. In New York, Jennifer Tempesta regularly represents multinational companies and is particularly skilled in appellate proceedings. Katharine Burke, based in Washington DC, rounds out the team’s leadership, bringing expertise in patents related to electronics, telecommunications and medical devices. Robert Fulghum is a key contact in Houston for patent and trade secret disputes in federal and state courts. Additionally, New York’s Robert Maier can handle all phases of patent litigation. Robert Benson and Jeffrey Johnson joined from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in February 2024. Sarah Guske left the firm in October 2024.
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Profile
Work Department
Intellectual Property
Position
Partner
Department Chair - Intellectual Property (New York)
Career
Rob Maier is a lead trial lawyer and Chair of the Intellectual Property Group in the Baker Botts New York office. He leads trial teams in patent and other complex IP cases in district courts and the ITC, and directs strategy for multinational companies engaged in worldwide IP disputes. He frequently represents Fortune 500 companies in cases involving a broad range of technologies, from semiconductor manufacturing and smartphones, to drink packaging and stem cells. His practice also includes PTAB matters and counseling in patent, trade secret, and other IP matters.
Memberships
New York State Bar; U.S.P.T.O.; U.S. Supreme Court; Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; admitted to practice before various district courts; NYIPLA; AIPLA; ABCNY.
Education
J.D. Fordham Law School; B.S. Computer Engineering, George Washington University; Patent and Trademark Law Columnist, “New York Law Journal” (2017-present); Adjunct Associate Professor of Law, Brooklyn Law School (2012-2017). Before law school, Rob worked as a software engineer in the telecom industry.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘This firm is great to work with for a variety of reasons. They provide good legal services at a great value. Their work is typically comprehensive and well-reasoned, and their attorneys are both sophisticated and competent.’
‘The attorneys at this firm have analytical skills and work ethic that are top notch. When confronted with a problem or challenging task, they fully think through the issues before presenting a recommendation. I’ve never known them to raise an issue without also presenting a well-thought-out solution. The attorneys at this firm also have a deep appreciation of the technology at issue in their cases.'
‘The Baker Botts IP team under the leadership of Hopkins Guy has a deep bench of talented lawyers covering all aspects of IP litigation. They are great strategists and trial lawyers.’
‘Hopkins Guy is at the top of his field. He's a consummate trial lawyer and strategist, really cares about our Company, and is a pleasure to work with. Kurt Pankratz is an outstanding courtroom lawyer. Eliot Williams is terrific in appellate and IPR matters. Lauren Dreyer is a rising appellate star.’
‘The team led by Michael Hawes is very good. They work productively using their expertise in technology as well as in patent laws.’
‘Michael Hawes is an outstanding team leader. He also keeps the client posted on the potential issues (both positive and negative) in the case.’
Key clients
- Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. DISH Network Textron Innovations Inc. Netflix Draftkings Ericsson Inc. Lyft Inc. Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Co NEC Corporation Motorola Solutions American Honda Motor Co. MasterCard International Incorporated Garmin International Realtek Semiconductor Corp Arista Networks Halliburton Company AT&T Mobility LLC Fujifilm Holdings Corporation (and subsidiaries) CMC Materials, Inc.
Work highlights
After a week-long trial in the Western District of Texas before Judge Alan Albright, a jury awarded Textron $278.9 million in damages, finding that DJI infringed two patents. The jury also found that DJI’s infringement was willful and that the patents were not invalid. The Court later awarded a running royalty to cover future damages.
Representing Samsung Electronics Co. in fifteen inter partes reviews (IPRs) at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) against Netlist regarding patents on memory modules. The patents at issue are the subject of hotly contested ongoing litigation between Netlist, Samsung, and Micron, including a $303M jury verdict against Samsung in 2023 in the Eastern District of Texas.
Successfully defended DISH in reversing a $469M patent judgement at trial. Utah-based ClearPlay sued DISH eight years ago in the District of Utah, alleging DISH’s commercial skipping feature infringed ClearPlay’s patents.