Steve has litigated intellectual property disputes in courts across the country, with substantial experience in the Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, the District of Delaware, and the Northern District of California, He also has substantial appellate experience before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Federal and Fifth Circuits. His patent practice also includes inter partes review, ex parte reexamination, and other post-grant

proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

 

In addition to litigation, Steve advises clients on intellectual property strategy, licensing, due diligence, risk assessment, and the resolution of complex IP disputes. His experience spans technologies including semiconductors and integrated circuits, software and internet platforms, communications and networking technologies, energy and oilfield technologies, medical devices, RFID, GPS, and embedded systems.

 

Prior to joining CHZ, Steve practiced at a top-ranked litigation firm in Houston and was most recently a named shareholder at a patent litigation boutique.

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Representative Experience

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• Obtained a seven-figure settlement for a client within six months of filing a patent infringement action involving RFID technology.

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• Served as lead counsel for a messaging company in a multi-patent dispute against a major social media platform. Steve successfully defended the asserted patents in inter partes review proceedings, helping position the matter for a significant settlement.

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• Served as lead counsel defending an oilfield services company against trade secret, non-compete, and non-disclosure claims. With only a few hours' notice, Steve and his team defeated a motion for a temporary restraining order that could have significantly disrupted the client's business; the case later resolved on favorable terms.

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• Was an original member of a multi-firm, multi-jurisdictional team representing a computer equipment manufacturer in an enforcement campaign against dozens of alleged infringers.

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• Played a key role on a trial team that obtained a jury verdict of infringement and validity and secured a permanent injunction. Steve continued representing the client in related litigation and proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; the broader enforcement campaign generated tens of millions of dollars in settlements.

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• Represented a client in patent litigation involving GPS technology that settled favorably on the second day of trial.

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• Helped resolve, days before trial, a patent infringement and trade secret dispute against a major U.S. software developer. The resolution included a license to the client's patents and technology.

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Selected Technology Experience

• Semiconductors, microprocessors, and integrated circuits

• Software, internet platforms, social media, and embedded systems

• Communications and networking technologies, including wireless routers and cable modem systems

• Energy and oilfield equipment and chemicals

• Medical devices, including cardiac stents

• RFID

• Global positioning systems

• Building materials

• Enterprise data interchange (EDI) software and systems

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Education

• J.D., South Texas College of Law, 1998

• B.S., Chemistry, Southwestern University, 1992

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Admissions

• Supreme Court of the United States

• U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Federal and Fifth Circuits

• U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas

• Texas State Courts

• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

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Memberships & Affiliations

• State Bar of Texas

• Houston Intellectual Property Lawyers Association

• Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow

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Outside the Firm

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Steve is active with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, including serving on the World Championship BBQ Contest Committee.