Fish and Richardson
Firm overview:
Established in 1878, Fish & Richardson began in Boston and has grown into a leading IP boutique with a national and international footprint, spanning 13 offices across the US and additional locations in Munich, Germany and Shenzhen, China. From its early work for pioneering inventors such as Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison and the Wright Brothers, the firm has remained closely aligned with innovation-driven industries and cutting-edge technology.
Market observers consistently point to Fish’s enduring stature, noting that its standing in the IP community is immediately recognisable to both clients and competitors. While the traditional boutique model has diminished elsewhere, Fish is widely regarded as an exception, combining depth, scale and technical sophistication in a way few specialist firms can match.
The firm is a global force in patent prosecution, filing thousands of applications annually in the US and abroad. Its prosecution practice is integrated with litigation and post-grant teams, enabling clients to benefit from cohesive, forward-looking patent strategies that anticipate enforcement and validity challenges.
The firm is equally formidable in contentious matters, having secured landmark victories in some of the most consequential patent trials on record. Its litigators handle disputes across virtually all technology sectors and appear regularly before district courts, the International Trade Commission and in Hatch-Waxman proceedings. A strong track record across multiple forums has made the firm a trusted adviser to Fortune 100 companies.
Beyond casework, Fish demonstrates sustained thought leadership through its Post-Grant Annual Reports and a steady output of blogs, podcasts and webinars addressing developments in patent law and policy. In 2025, the firm launched a dedicated cross-practice team focused on standard-essential patents (SEPs), led by Benjamin Elacqua and Christina McDonough, to advise clients on SEP litigation, licensing and prosecution as demand in this area continues to grow.
Team overview:
Fish & Richardson draws on a deep reservoir of IP talent, comprising more than 170 lawyers with trial experience and supported by over 25 former clerks of the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Alongside seasoned litigators, the firm’s bench includes patent prosecutors and post-grant specialists, allowing it to assemble cohesive teams across the entire patent lifecycle. The firm opened its 15th office, in Chicago, in June 2025.
At the senior level, principal Ruffin Cordell is routinely called upon by globally recognised companies to lead disputes with substantial commercial and strategic implications, including large-scale patent and trade secrets litigation. In a similar vein, Daniel Tishman is highly regarded for his work in complex patent disputes, regularly asserting and defending multi-patent infringement claims across a broad spectrum of technologies.
Beyond litigation, the firm’s transactional capability is anchored by Kevin Gray, national chair of the IP Licensing, Transactions and Agreements Practice. In this role, he advises clients on a wide array of technology and IP arrangements, encompassing patent and software licences, joint ventures and sophisticated cross-licensing structures.
Turning to post-grant matters, Karl Renner, chair of the Post-Grant Practice, focuses on strategic patent counselling, prosecution planning and contested inter partes and ex parte proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). His experience spans more than 800 post-grant proceedings under the America Invents Act.
Joshua Griswold is also recognised for his post-grant work, combining a strong technical background with extensive knowledge of patent law. He represents clients in district court litigation and PTAB proceedings, while advising on the development and coordination of global patent portfolios and high-value IP-driven commercial relationships.
Reflecting continued investment in its patent practice, the firm entered 2025 with the addition of seven patent-focused associates: Mitsi Blount, Joshua Carrigan, Jae Woo Choi, Caitlin Dean, Jory Hoffman, Lucas O’Donnell and Brendan McLaughlin.
Key matters:
- PTAB wins on eligibility (Dec 30, 2025 decision reported Jan 2026)
Fish & Richardson attorneys David Jordan, Michael Shepherd and Yao Wang achieved a reversal of a 101 rejection at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in Ex parte Carmody, where claims directed to AI-related business methods were found patent-eligible under the PTAB’s application of evolving eligibility standards.
- Headwater Research v Samsung Electronics
Fish & Richardson represented Samsung Electronics as a defendant in patent litigation; Headwater Research alleged that Samsung infringed certain patents related to wireless communication technologies.
In September 2025, the parties told a Texas federal court they had resolved the dispute and asked to dismiss Headwater’s claims with prejudice.
Clients:
Apple, Blackberry, Carl Zeiss, Children’s Medical Center, Deepmind Technologies, Genzyme Corporation, GM Global Technology, Google, Huawei Technologies, LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics
