William D. McSpadden handles all aspects of patent law, including litigation, prosecution, opinions, and counseling. He has prepared and prosecuted numerous patent applications and has counseled many clients on international portfolio management. Chambers & Partners ranks him as one of the top IP lawyers in Texas. Mr. McSpadden also serves as the pro bono and public service coordinator for the Dallas office. Baker & McKenzie LLP is a signatory to the ABA’s Pro Bono Challenge, through which firms have committed to dedicate at least 3 percent of their billable hours towards pro bono causes.

Practice Focus

Mr. McSpadden focuses his practice on patent litigation, patent prosecution, and patent opinion work. He has conducted worldwide intellectual property due diligence for business transactions, and has extensive experience working with a wide variety of technologies including computer software, semiconductors, telecommunications, medical devices, and financial systems. A significant number of his cases have been in the Eastern District of Texas, but he has also handled cases in Delaware, the Northern District of Texas, the International Trade Commission, and many other jurisdictions.

Representative Legal Matters

• Defended a wireless telecommunications company in a patent infringement lawsuit in the Eastern District of Texas related to prepaid wireless telecommunications services. The case was settled prior to trial.
• Defended a wireless telecommunications company in a patent infringement lawsuit in the Eastern District of Arkansas related to picture and video messaging services. Case was dismissed, with prejudice, after receiving several favorable claim construction rulings.
• Defended a French company and its US subsidiary in an International Trade Commission investigation regarding the importation of point of sale terminals that were allegedly infringing a US patent. Case was dismissed and sanctions imposed after the respondents established that the Complainant lacked standing to initiate the investigation.
• Defended a British manufacturer of active noise reduction (AN) headset modules in a patent infringement case brought by a French patent holder. The case was resolved with a favorable settlement.
• Defended a software company and a digital camera manufacturer in a patent infringement case filed against more than 100 defendants in the Eastern District of Texas. Settlements were negotiated on behalf of our clients after a favorable claim construction ruling was secured.
• Represented a corporation in a preliminary injunction action against a former officer who attempted to sell rights to an invention that properly belonged to the corporation.

Professional Associations and Memberships

• State Bar of Texas
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - Member
• American Intellectual Property Law Association
• Chambers & Partners - Intellectual Property Attorneys in Texas
• Metroplex Technology Business Council

Admission

U.S. Patent & Trademark Office~United States (1998)
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas~United States (1998)
Texas~United States (1997)
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas~United States (1997)
U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit~United States (1997)

Education

University of Houston Law Center  (J.D.) (1997)
University of Texas at Austin  (B.S.E.E.) (1992)