Baker Law Group launches nationwide patent litigation practice

Baker Law Group, PLLC has launched a nationwide patent litigation practice led by Senior Associate Attorney Michael Smith. The move expands the Austin-based firm’s federal patent dispute work as clients face cases that can move between district courts, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, the Federal Circuit and the International Trade Commission.

Why it matters: - Patent disputes can move quickly across multiple federal venues, so clients need counsel that can handle litigation, appeals and administrative proceedings in one matter. - Baker Law Group’s new practice gives the firm a broader national footprint in a niche where technical evidence and forum strategy can shape case outcomes.

What happened: - Baker Law Group, PLLC launched a nationwide patent litigation practice led by Senior Associate Attorney Michael Smith. - Smith will represent clients in patent infringement and intellectual property disputes in federal courts across the country. - The practice will operate from Baker Law Group’s Austin office.

The details: - Patent infringement claims are typically filed in federal district court. - Challenges to patent validity may proceed before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. - Appeals from district court decisions and Patent Trial and Appeal Board rulings go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. - Disputes involving the importation of infringing products may also go before the U.S. International Trade Commission under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930. - Smith brings 24 years of trial experience in high-stakes civil litigation and complex intellectual property disputes. - Smith earned a J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2002 and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Santa Clara Computer and High Technology Law Journal. - Smith holds an M.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona. - Smith has been a member of the State Bar of Texas since 2002 and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. - Before joining Baker Law Group, Smith litigated complex patent and commercial disputes in private practice across Texas and multiple jurisdictions nationwide. - Smith has handled patent matters in telecommunications, semiconductors, mechanical systems, pharmaceuticals, and internet and web-based technologies. - Smith’s background includes an eight-figure settlement in an automotive patent infringement matter after managing discovery, expert depositions and settlement negotiations. - Smith also secured a $600,000 post-appeal settlement for a Canadian valve manufacturer after a successful appeal to the Federal Circuit. - In a separate pharmaceutical patent case, Smith obtained a permanent injunction that blocked a generic-drug competitor from market entry and protected patent exclusivity. - Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and every case is fact-specific. - Baker Law Group also points to Smith’s broader civil litigation work, including contract claims, business torts and disputes over performance and payment obligations. - The firm says that broader trial experience helps in federal patent cases, where technical evidence and expert testimony often determine the outcome. - Baker Law Group also offers formation-stage counsel, including entity formation, contract drafting and intellectual property protection. - The firm says that combination of formation advice and litigation representation is meant to reduce the risk of later disputes for businesses building intellectual property assets.

Between the lines: - The launch signals Baker Law Group’s effort to compete for patent work that demands both courtroom experience and technical fluency. - Smith’s mix of biology training and patent litigation experience fits the firm’s emphasis on disputes that turn on complex scientific and engineering evidence. - The practice may appeal to businesses that want one law firm to advise on both early-stage IP protection and later enforcement.

What's next: - Baker Law Group is now positioned to take on new patent matters from its Austin base while serving clients nationwide. - The firm’s multi-state footprint may help support cross-border client work across litigation, business and intellectual property matters. - More information is available on Baker Law Group’s LinkedIn page, Instagram, YouTube channel and X account.