Steptoe
Firm overview:
International law firm Steptoe operates from ten offices, with six in the US, two in Europe and two in Asia-Pacific. Known for its involvement in high-stakes IP litigation, Steptoe offers patent services including strategic portfolio building in the US and internationally, prosecution, post-grant proceedings, due diligence investigations, and validity and infringement opinions.
Some of the patent team’s notable past representations include acting for Express Mobile in a patent infringement case against GoDaddy; assisting Sanofi with patent applications; and representing American Axle in a nine-year patent battle that resulted in a favourable jury verdict.
Team overview:
A former co-chair of Steptoe’s IP group, Jay Nuttall is a first-chair patent trial lawyer with experience across a range of technologies, including networking, software systems, telecoms, medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Nuttall’s work highlights include defeating a multi-patent infringement claim alleging more than $4 billion in accused sales, and trying an 11-patent case in which the client won on all issues.
Key team members include John Caracappa, who is experienced in International Trade Commission (ITC) proceedings, as well as high-stakes patent disputes in district courts across the US. First chair trial lawyer Boyd Cloern focuses on IP matters including trade secret, copyright and patent claims, and he has managed ‘bet the company’ global litigation.
Significant additions to the team over the past year include Yi Han Dulkeith who joined from Jones Day. Dulkeith has over 15 years of experience in global patent portfolio development and management in biotechnology, and has PhD and Master’s degrees in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology.
Key matters:
- Express Mobile v GoDaddy
Steptoe’s client Express Mobile won a patent infringement case against GoDaddy.com, culminating in a jury verdict awarding $170 million in damages after six years of litigation. Express Mobile alleged that GoDaddy’s use of website-building tools infringed two of its patents.
The firm’s trial team included Jay Nuttall, John Abramic, Robert Kappers, Kate Tellez, Christopher Suarez, and Candice Kwark.
- Appellate victory for Sandoz
Steptoe secured a win for client Sandoz in late 2025, when the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit overturned a $39 million jury verdict in a patent infringement dispute concerning Sandoz’s generic version of Latisse, a drug product for eyelash growth.
The appeals court reversed and found that the asserted patent-in-suit was invalid for lack of adequate written description. The case is Duke University v Sandoz Inc, Nos. 24-1078 (Fed. Cir.) and 18-cv-997 (D. Colo.)
Steptoe partnered with Goodwin Procter on the matter. Steptoe’s team included Vishal Gupta, Kate Tellez, Robert Kappers, Tyler Doh, Lillian Wallace, Candice Kwark, Jenn Fryer, and Anthony DiFilippi.
- Wins for auto supplier in patent disputes over automotive propshafts
In September 2025, Steptoe reported multiple wins for a tier 1 automotive supplier in separate patent infringement disputes.
The court awarded the client’s motions for supplemental damages, pre-judgment interest, and post-judgment interest in a patent infringement dispute against its competitor concerning propshaft technology used in GM trucks. The court’s award boosts the client’s $4 million jury verdict by nearly $1.2 million.
The Steptoe team representing the automotive supplier includes partners Jay Nuttall and Robert Kappers, and associate Jacob Michalakes.
Clients:
Clients: Express Mobile, Sandoz
