An IP all-rounder and rigorously commercial strategist with a fine-tuned understanding of the risk profile of any action and the tolerance levels of his clients.
Intellectual Asset Management’s IAM Patent 1000

With more than 20 years of experience representing numerous Fortune 500 companies, Jack Barufka ranks as one of the top intellectual property attorneys in the United States.

Jack serves as Pillsbury’s Intellectual Property Transactions & Patent Prosecution Practice Group Leader. His practice includes strategic intellectual property counseling, litigation, prosecution, dispute resolution, licensing, technology transactions, intellectual property mining and enforcement, copyright protection and pre-litigation opinions. Jack has extensive experience in post-grant proceedings. He works closely with clients on new product launches to minimize risks associated with costly litigation and also concentrates in patent claim interpretation and designing around valid U.S. patents.

View More

Jack’s client counseling practice develops strategic patent programs that posture the client’s patent portfolio to increase market share, improve margins and generate licensing revenue in a cost effective manner. His areas of technical focus are electrical, mechanical, semiconductor, computer, software, medical devices and business methods.

Representative Experience

  • Leads a large, global Pillsbury team in managing the entire IP portfolio of a major multinational bank that has entrusted Pillsbury with ensuring the highest levels of IP protection and monetization.
  • Represented respondents Black & Decker Corporation, bObsweep, Inc., Hoover Inc., and TTi Floor Care North America, Inc. regarding alleged infringement of complainant iRobot’s patents resulting in favorable Final Initial Determination finding invalidity and no infringement of certain products and patents before the ITC.
  • Represents numerous Fortune 500 firms in handling their patent portfolios globally.

View More

  • Prevailed in PTAB inter partes review proceedings for Black & Decker Inc. against Christy Inc., with all asserted claims found to be unpatentable.
  • Defeated infringement claims involving client Medtronic’s life-saving Endurant stent grafts, successfully petitioning PTAB to invalidate all asserted claims by Endotach LLC.
  • Defeated infringement claims involving client Medtronic’s life-saving Evolute heart valves, successfully petitioning PTAB to invalidate all asserted claims by Dr. Troy Norred.

Professional Highlights

  • Recognized by Lawdragon as one of 500 Leading Litigators in America (2023)
  • Adjunct professor of law at George Washington University’s National Law Center.
  • Quoted by The Wall Street Journal, The ABA Journal, Forbes, Investor’s Business Daily and National Journal’s Technology Daily; appeared as a featured guest on the CNNfn television program “Your Money” and Bloomberg TV’s “InsideTrack.”

View More

  • Co-founder and editor of Patent Strategy and Technology Management, a monthly journal published by American Lawyer Media.
  • Member, Inter Partes Proceedings Committee of the Intellectual Property Owners organization, monitoring issues related to the America Invents Act and patent reform.
  • Previously employed for seven years by a laser component manufacturer in capacities including design engineering, testing and product development relating to high-power gas lasers.
  • Honors & Awards
    • Chambers USA (Northern Virginia) – Band 1 (2019 – 2023)
    • Recognized as an “IP Star” for Patents (Virginia) as published by Managing Intellectual Property (2020).
    • Recognized by IAM Patent 1000 for Patent Prosecution in the DC Metro Area (2020 – 2021).
    • Expert Guides: Patents (2017)
    • Chambers USA—Tier 1 Rated
    • The Legal 500 U.S.—Patent Litigation and Patent Prosecution (2007 – 2019)
    • Top 15 IP Lawyers in Metro DC Area—Legal Times
    • World’s Leading Patent Law Practitioners, Patent Star in Virginia and nationally,  Managing Intellectual Property
    • Best IP Lawyers in Virginia, Virginia Business Magazine
    • National Physics Honor Society (Sigma Pi Sigma)
  • Speaking Engagements
    • “Section 101: Latest Jurisprudence and Can It Be Fixed?," panel moderator, George Washington University Law School Symposium on Intellectual Property, May 2017.
    • George Washington University Law School Symposium on Intellectual Property, May 2016.
    • “Post-Issuance PTO Proceedings,” GW Symposium on Intellectual Property, May 2015.
    • “Corporate Counsel Prosecution Strategies Post-AIA,” Fordham University, The School of Law IP Summit, November 2013. Panel Moderator.
    • “The In-House Counsel Perspective: How Do Companies Assess the Threat of Litigation?,” George Washington University Law School Symposium on Intellectual Property, May 2013. Panel moderator.
    • “Intellectual Property Strategies and Best Practices,” Northern Virginia Technology Counsel, September 2010.
    • “From AIPA to the Present: Changes, Changes, and More Changes,” American Intellectual Property Law Association, New York, April 2006.
    • “Due Diligence,” Association for Corporate Growth, Connecticut Chapter, January 2004. On panel.
    • Lecture on Festo v. Shoketsu, Intellectual Property Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Michigan State Bar, March 2002. 
    • Patent Strategy & Management, Law Journal Seminars, McLean, Virginia. November 2000. Co-chair.
    • AIPLA Meeting, American Intellectual Property Law Association, October 2000. Panel speaker.

Education

  • J.D., American University, Washington College of Law, 1992
    cum laude

    LL.M., Intellectual Property, The George Washington University Law School, 1996

    B.S., Physics, Binghamton University, 1987
    Member of National Physics Honor Society, Sigma Pi Sigma

Admissions

  • Virginia

    District of Columbia

    New York

    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Courts

  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit