District Court Litigation

 

Stephen has served as counsel in more than 60 patent lawsuits in federal district courts across the United States. His experience spans pre-suit investigations, infringement, invalidity, claim construction, and damages disputes.

 

His cases have spanned a wide range of technologies, including:

• the energy sector (e.g., oil and gas, solar)

• medical devices (e.g., spinal implants)

• electrical systems and methods (e.g., semiconductors, wireless telecom)

• chemical products and processes (e.g., frac fluids)

• consumer products (e.g., stun guns, eye lid cleansers)

 

​Federal Appeals​

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Stephen has served as lead counsel in numerous appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, including several that resulted in precedential decisions affirming district court victories obtained by Cabello Hall Zinda. Some of his most notable wins came in: 

• Products, Inc. v. Panther Trading Co., Inc., No. 23-1665 (Dec. 6, 2024) (precedential decision affirming award of all district court attorney fees and costs to Panther Trading for exceptional and sanctionable conduct)

• Canatex Completion Solutions, Inc. v. Wellmatics, LLC, No. 2024-1466 (Nov. 12, 2025) (precedential decision reversing low court ruling of indefiniteness that had invalidated entire patent)

 

Post-Grant Proceedings

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Stephen represents both patent owners and accused infringers in proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, often in parallel with district court litigation. He has handled more than 80 inter partes review proceedings and more than 20 ex parte reexaminations, and has represented clients in related appeals to the Federal Circuit. Patexia has recognized him as one of the top post-grant attorneys in the country, and he has obtained wins against Apple, Google, Samsung, LG Energy, Roku, Hulu, Ericsson, and other major technology companies.

 

Intellectual Property Counseling​

 

Stephen provides strategic intellectual property counseling and analysis, including:

• ​Patent invalidity and non-infringement opinions

• Freedom-to-operate opinions

• Patent portfolio counseling

• Patent and technology licensing

• Technology transactions

• Due diligence in acquisitions and investments

• Pre-suit investigation and analysis

• Trademark counseling

• Copyright counseling

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Admissions

• Texas State Courts

• Texas Federal Courts - All Districts

• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

• Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

• Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

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Education

 

Texas Tech University (2005), B.S. Electrical Engineering

University of Houston Law (2012), Cum Laude 

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Professional Activities

• Member of Houston Intellectual Property Association (HIPLA)

• Member of the Houston Institute for Intellectual Property & Information Law (IPIL)

• Former (termed out) Member of the Houston Intellectual Property Inn of Court

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Recognitions

• 2024–2026, “Super Lawyer” in Intellectual Property Litigation, listed in Texas Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters)

• 2025–2026, Intellectual Property Law, listed in Chambers USA

• 2025-2026, Top Post-Grant Attorneys Nationally, listed in Patexia

• 2021-2023, “Rising Star” in Intellectual Property Litigation, listed in Texas Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters)