Sheppard Mullin

Firm overview:

Sheppard Mullin’s patent practice serves a broad range of innovative clients—from startups to multinational technology and life sciences companies—with comprehensive patent prosecution, counselling, and high-stakes litigation services. In 2025 the firm significantly expanded its patent litigation capabilities by integrating a 21-attorney IP litigation team from Ropes & Gray, including seasoned trial partners and specialists, boosting its capacity across key US and international offices (New York, Silicon Valley, Seoul, Washington, DC) and enhancing client support in complex technology sectors such as telecommunications, semiconductors, life sciences and software.

Sheppard Mullin’s patent team is recognised for its experience in standard-essential patent (SEP) and FRAND/RAND disputes, inter partes review (IPR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and strategic counselling on patent portfolios, including freedom-to-operate and product clearance analyses. The firm’s work also contributes to safeguarding innovation that impacts patient care and medical technologies, such as in medical devices and health-related systems.

The firm also offers thought leadership and client education on patent matters, including webinars on evolving litigation trends that help technology and healthcare companies anticipate risk and manage patent disputes effectively.

Team overview:

John Keville, a founding partner of the firm’s Houston office, joined Sheppard Mullin in 2022 after spending most of his career at Winston & Strawn. A peer notes that Keville is a “great lawyer” who has had several good wins this year in patent litigation. Keville has been lead trial counsel in patent litigation matters regarding numerous technologies, and has argued appeals to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Fifth Circuit.

Jonathan DeFosse is an experienced patent litigator focused on automotive technologies, cloud computing, medical devices and telecommunications. DeFosse continues to represent clients in district court and PTAB proceedings, including IPR challenges involving advanced technology patents.

Steven Pepe joined Sheppard Mullin in 2025 from Ropes & Gray as part of a strategic litigation team build-out. Pepe brings decades of experience leading high-stakes patent disputes for global technology clients, enhancing the firm’s ability to serve innovators in complex industries.

Also part of the 2025 lateral additions, former Ropes & Gray partner David Chun joined the team, bringing a practice that strengthens the firm’s defence and enforcement capabilities in the technology and life sciences sectors.

Key matters:

• Contour IP Holding v GoPro

Contour sued GoPro for patent infringement; GoPro sought summary judgment on the grounds that Contour’s patents were ineligible, and the district court agreed.

On appeal, that decision was reversed and remanded for further proceedings. John Keville argued for Contour before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Following a trial in October 2025, a jury returned a verdict of non-infringement of all products still at issue and invalidity of two of the three asserted claims.

• SecurityPoint Holdings v United States (Court of Federal Claims)

Sheppard Mullin secured a final judgment awarding approximately $170.6 million for patent infringement involving TSA’s unauthorised use of patented airport security screening technology, affirming the validity of the patent and compensation for delays.

• IPR2025-01281 (PTAB)

Sheppard Mullin attorneys including Harper Batts, Chris Ponder, Jeffrey Liang and Jonathan DeFosse are counsel in an ongoing inter partes review proceeding for a major technology client.

Clients:

Contour, SecurityPoint Holdings, Sandisk Technologies