Bill West is an experienced trial lawyer and senior counsel in Pillsbury’s Intellectual Property practice, where he focuses on IP litigation that has included high stakes, bet-the-company cases.
A registered patent attorney, Bill has particular strengths in conducting and advising on complex patent trials and appeals, as well as related antitrust and unfair competition litigation. He has argued more than 25 appeals to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and has co-briefed or counseled on many other appeals to that court.
Bill’s cases include representations of industry icons such as Qualcomm, Caterpillar, Schering Plough, Toyota, Chrysler and Burlington Industries.
Representative Experience
- Counsel (on appeal only) on behalf of World Wide for briefing and argument on issues of validity and infringement of WW’s patents and of incorrect inventorship. Judgment was affirmed without opinion (World Wide Stationery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. v. U.S. Ring Binder, L.P.).
- Counsel on appeal only in WiAV Solutions v. Motorola Mobility, Inc. Argued appeal on licensee standing issue at request of parties (briefing by other counsel). Summary judgment was reversed in favor of appellant.
- Counsel on appeal only in Matthew A. Pequignot v. Solo Cup Company for briefing and oral argument on false marking issue under 35 U.S.C. § 292. Appellate decision affirmed that client Solo Cup was not liable for false marking.
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- Counsel on appeal only in TALtech Limited and TAL Apparel Limited v. Esquel Apparel, Inc. and Esquel Enterprises Limited for briefing and oral argument. Award of attorney fees against client TALtech was affirmed while awarded interest rate and term were reversed in favor of TALtech.
- Counsel on appeal only for briefing and oral argument. Summary judgments dismissing client Digene’s patent claims relating to a DNA test and dismissing opponent’s antitrust counterclaims were both affirmed (Digene Corporation v. Third Wave Technologies, Inc.).
- In Kyocera Wireless Corporation, et al v. International Trade Commission and Broadcom Corp., liability of client Qualcomm Corp. based on induced infringement was reversed and exclusion order directed to importation of downstream products was vacated.
- In Broadcom Corporation v. International Trade Commission and Qualcomm Corp., initial Determination dismissing claims against client Qualcomm Corp. based on certain Broadcom patents was affirmed.
- Counsel on appeal only in TALtech Limited and TAL Apparel Limited v. Esquel Apparel, Inc. and Esquel Enterprises Limited for briefing and oral argument. Obtained appellate decision vacating award of attorney fees, vacating finding of "exceptional case" and finding of inequitable conduct on part of client-appellant, with remand to district court.
Professional Highlights
- Honors and Awards
- Recognized by Best Lawyers (published by BL Rankings LLC), Copyright Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law, Trademark Law (2011 – 2024)
- Expert Guides: Patents (2017)
- Representative Speaking Engagements
- NCIPLA/National Inventors Hall of Fame programs, Ohio, 1999 – 2000
Education
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LL.B., Duke University School of Law, 1962
B.S.M.E., Duke University, 1959
Admissions
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District of Columbia