With 20 years of experience and appearances in district courts in more than a dozen states, Geoffrey Gavin advises clients on important IP matters, including patent litigation, PTAB litigation, and strategic IP counseling. He has experience with numerous technologies across a wide variety of industries, including wireless telecommunications, data encryption and computer security, LED lighting, printers and copiers, automotive products, medical devices, video and image processing, packaging, and athletic footwear and equipment.
Geoffrey has represented plaintiffs and defendants in significant patent litigation matters throughout the United States. He has argued and presented at numerous claim construction, dispositive motion, and other hearings. Recent engagements for clients include competitor patent litigation related to indoor lighting and automotive products.
Geoffrey also represents both patent owners and challengers in post-grant proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). In one engagement he led a PTAB team that defended four patents on LED downlights against inter partes review (IPR) petitions filed by a competitor. In another engagement he led a team that used IPR proceedings to successfully invalidate claims in three patents asserted by Intellectual Ventures against numerous aspects of Compass Bank's online banking operations.
Geoffrey is a member of the Post-Grant Patent Office Practice Committee of the Intellectual Property Owners (IPO) Association and a Master in the Atlanta Intellectual Property Inn of Court.
Experience
The following represents experience acquired prior to joining Jones Day.
Represented multiple parties in preparing and filing petitions for inter partes review (IPR) before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The challenged patents related to telecommunications and consumer products. The PTAB ultimately determined all 59 claims on which it instituted trial in the IPR proceedings were unpatentable.
Represented Motorola Mobility in numerous matters, including a Section 337 ITC investigation, involving patents relating to software and hardware for mobile phones and tablets.
Provided patent procurement and counseling services to an industry leader in the development of advanced medical devices and implants, including helping shape the company's overall patent strategy, identifying and protecting innovations, as well as evaluating third-party intellectual property rights.
Represented a provider of automatic order fulfillment systems in a patent infringement suit brought by a pharmacy automation company in the Northern District of Georgia. Summary judgment was granted in favor of client and affirmed by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Represented Georgia-Pacific subsidiaries in a patent infringement suit against two competitors in the Northern District of Georgia involving composite food wrap products. Following a favorable Markman ruling in which the court adopted clients' claim construction arguments, the parties reached a settlement involving cash payment and an ongoing royalty-bearing license.
Speaking Engagements
- February 22, 2016
The Shifting Landscape of Patent Litigation, Jones Day CLE Academy - October 8, 2015
Practical Tips and Guidance for Post Grant Proceedings at the USPTO, panelist, IP Section of the State Bar of Georgia - February 26, 2014
Review of the First 18 Months of USPTO Post-Grant Proceedings Under the AIA: Strategies, Trends, & Observations, Jones Day CLE Academy - November 10, 2012
Patent Indirect Infringement, panelist, ICLE in Georgia's Annual North American Entertainment, Sports, and Intellectual Property Law Conference - November 13, 2009
Section 1404(a) Motions to Transfer: Strategic Considerations After TS Tech and Other Recent Decisions, panelist, ICLE in Georgia's Annual North American Entertainment, Sports, and Intellectual Property Law Conference
- University of Alabama (J.D. summa cum laude 1999; Order of the Coif; Editor, Law Review; Dean M. Leigh Harrison Award); Duke University (B.S. in Mechanical Engineering 1996)
- Georgia; Alabama; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, Eastern District of Texas, and Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Alabama; and registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for intellectual property litigation (2017-2020)
Recognized as an Acritas "Star Lawyer" on multiple occasions
Recognized in Georgia Super Lawyers numerous times for intellectual property litigation