Intellectual Property Litigation Attorneys
HKW represents technology companies, manufacturers, inventors, and brand-driven businesses in intellectual property litigation nationwide, including in federal courts in Georgia and across the United States. Our intellectual property litigators handle matters for both plaintiffs and defendants, from early dispute assessment through dispositive motions, trial, and appeal.
Lead Attorneys
For matters involving intellectual property litigation, clients often begin with:
- Steven G. Hill — Leads HKW’s intellectual property litigation practice, including patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, PTAB, and appellate matters.
- David K. Ludwig — Partner in HKW’s intellectual property litigation practice, focusing on patent litigation, Federal Circuit appeals, and PTAB proceedings.
Intellectual Asset Management Magazine has described HKW’s IP team as a “dynamic ensemble” that can “go toe to toe with the best.”
Why HKW for Intellectual Property Litigation
- Integrated across forums: coordinated strategy across district court litigation, PTAB proceedings, and appeals—so positions remain consistent and leverage is preserved.
- Courtroom judgment + record discipline: we build cases around the issues that actually decide outcomes—claim scope, proof architecture, remedies, and standards of review.
- Technical and market fluency: deep experience with technology disputes and brand-driven conflicts where evidence and commercial context drive risk.
- Trial- and appeal-ready from day one: issue preservation and record development are built into case planning, not retrofitted after an adverse ruling.
- Value-focused staffing and fee options: experience with staged budgets and alternative fee structures where appropriate to match risk and business objectives.
An Integrated Litigation Platform Across Key Forums
Modern IP disputes rarely stay in one place. HKW litigates and tries cases in U.S. federal courts and coordinates strategy across parallel proceedings, including:
- S. District Court IP Litigation (including emergency relief, discovery, experts, trial, and post-trial proceedings)
- PTAB Post-Grant Proceedings (IPR/PGR) as both petitioner and patent owner
- Federal Circuit Appeals (district court and PTAB)
- Regional Circuit Appeals involving “soft IP” claims (copyright, trademark/Lanham Act, and trade secrets)
Two HKW partners have served as special masters to district courts in patent and trademark matters—experience that informs how we present complex disputes in a way courts can decide.
How We Approach IP Litigation
HKW’s approach is built around the decision points that most affect outcome, leverage, and cost:
- Early case assessment that aligns merits, remedies, and business objectives
- Forum strategy (venue, stays, sequencing, and parallel-proceeding coordination)
- Protective order and confidentiality planning for sensitive technical and business materials
- Expert strategy developed early enough to support Markman, summary judgment, and trial readiness
- Appeal-aware record development focused on preservation and clean issue framing
We also work with clients on value-focused staffing and budgeting, including staged budgets and (where appropriate) alternative fee structures.
