Stephen Smith
About Stephen
Steve is chair of Cooley’s nationally recognized intellectual property litigation practice, which was named a finalist for The American Lawyer’s IP Litigation Department of the Year in 2023 and 2025. He is a top-tier, first-chair trial lawyer lauded for his “polished trial skills,” having tried complex technology cases for some of the largest companies in the world in federal courts nationwide, as well as before the US International Trade Commission (ITC). Steve has a deep understanding of patents, trade secrets and technology-related issues, and he has been described as “one of the most knowledgeable and experienced patent litigators on the market.”
For more than two decades, my trial practice has focused on high-stakes, fast-paced commercial disputes involving technologies central to many of the world's most popular consumer products.
Experience
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Cooley Secures Favorable Decision for VideaHealth in Lawsuit Filed by Overjet
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Cooley Obtains Summary Judgment for Qualcomm in Patent Infringement Lawsuit
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Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst + IVP Lead Hopin’s $400 Million Series C
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Neptune Technologies and Bioressources’ patent is protected from attack
Admissions and credentials
- District of Columbia
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
Rankings and accolades
BTI Consulting Group: Client Service All-Star
IAM Patent 1000: Top Patent Lawyer
The Legal 500 US: Patents: Litigation (Full Coverage) (2023 – 2025)
The Legal 500 US: Trade Secrets (Litigation and Non-Contentious Matters) (2024 – 2025)
Managing Intellectual Property: DC Metro Litigator of the Year Finalist
Managing Intellectual Property: IP Star
Memberships and affiliations
- International Trade Commission Trial Lawyers Association
Stephen Smith captains the IP litigation group, enjoying a prominent reputation for his performances in courts nationwide. He understands the finer points of patent strategy and possesses polished trial skills.
Litigation Department of the Year: IP Finalist
The American Lawyer
Related services
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Intellectual Property Litigation
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ITC Section 337 Litigation
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Life Sciences IP Litigation
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Intellectual Property
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Commercial Litigation
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Trials
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Life Sciences
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Medtech
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Semiconductor
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Software
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Technology
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Agricultural Sciences and Technology
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Patent Office Litigation
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Trade Secret Litigation and Dispute Counseling
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Artificial Intelligence
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CooleyREG
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Employee Mobility, Competitive Hiring and Unfair Competition
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