Calfee’s Intellectual Property litigators work with clients to protect their investments in ideas. Serving a broad spectrum of public and privately held companies, our attorneys represent plaintiffs and defendants with respect to patent, copyright, trade secret, trademark, trade dress, product configuration, unfair competition, and licensing claims.
Our intellectual property litigation lawyers focus on all major scientific disciplines including mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering; chemistry; biotechnology; computer hardware, software, and circuit design; semiconductors; and architecture.
The litigators in our Intellectual Property group have gained extensive and valuable intellectual property litigation experience dating back to the 1980s when the group was formed. At any time, Calfee has 20+ attorneys devoting all or a substantial amount of their time to intellectual property litigation. Calfee’s IP litigators also are supported by and can draw upon the sophisticated case management technology and personnel of Calfee’s extensive general litigation practice if needed.
Our Intellectual Property litigators have represented clients in matters before the USPTO, federal and state courts in many of the 50 states, as well as matters involving the U.S. Customs Office, International Trade Commission, and Federal Trade Commission. Our intellectual property litigation lawyers have briefed and argued cases to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and other appellate courts. Many of these matters were for clients whose patent or trademark portfolio also is maintained by Calfee.
Additionally, understanding that intellectual property litigation can be very expensive, the litigators in our Intellectual Property group advise our clients as to the full range of alternatives for resolving intellectual property disputes including licensing, cross-licensing or joint venture negotiations, specialized proceedings in the USPTO called “IPRs,” alternative dispute resolution proceedings, and litigation in federal and state courts.
Since 2004, Calfee has been recognized as a Leading Law Firm for Intellectual Property by Chambers USA, most recently in Band 1 in Ohio (2024) and in Litigation: General Commercial in Band 2 in Ohio (2024).
Clients provided the following feedback to Chambers USA researchers, "Calfee is esteemed for its handling of IP litigation and portfolio management on behalf of large clients in Ohio and the Midwest and across the USA. The IP team is highly experienced in the engineering, chemical, and biological sectors, with notable abilities in handling matters for consumer products and manufacturing clients. The team is responsive, practical, and extremely knowledgeable. Calfee offers excellent value for its services. The team is dedicated and provides sophisticated IP legal services at an attractive cost. Calfee's IP attorneys are highly regarded; they are true experts, and they do excellent work for their clients. This is a power bench; the team works well together and supports each other well. Each individual is responsive and knowledgeable in their expertise and experience. This is definitely one of my favorite firms to work with."
Chambers USA researchers found Calfee's IP team to be held in "very high regard by fellow practitioners who note Calfee's extensive experience representing clients in wider patent and trademark matters, IP litigation matters, appellate work, and advising companies on managing IP assets in China."
Calfee was selected for inclusion in the 2025 "Best Law Firms" rankings in the following areas:
Calfee was selected for inclusion by Benchmark Litigation 2025 as a Highly Recommended Law Firm in Dispute Resolution in Ohio. Additionally, 16 of Calfee's Litigation partners have been ranked by Benchmark Litigation as "Litigation Stars" in the U.S. (National), Midwest, and Ohio and as “40 & Under" and "Future Stars" Honorees.
Calfee's Intellectual Property practice group has been selected as a leading law firm (Gold Rankings) by the World Trademark Review 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals publication from 2015-2025. The annual WTR 1000 research directory recognizes the world’s leading trademark firms and professionals. Each year, WTR conducts exhaustive qualitative research to identify the firms that are deemed outstanding in this critical area of practice.
Our attorneys have prosecuted and defended litigation involving, for example, the following subjects:
"Calfee's IP group is esteemed for its handling of IP litigation and portfolio management on behalf of large clients in Ohio, the Midwest, and across the USA. They are highly experienced in the engineering, chemical, and biological sectors, with notable abilities in handling matters for consumer products and manufacturing clients."
Researcher comment, Chambers USA
