Leif R. Sigmond Jr.

Partner

Chicago
T +1.312.416.6275
F +1.312.416.6201
New York
T +1.212.847.7095
F +1.212.589.4201

Overview

Leif Sigmond is the firmwide co-chair of BakerHostetler’s Patent Litigation Group and the chair of the Software Industry Group. With more than 30 years of experience in high stakes IP litigation, clients rely on him to handle competitor versus competitor contentious matters. Leif has first-chair jury trial experience in important patent litigation as well as experience in other contentious matters litigation, such as trademark, trade secret and contract disputes. Besides district court litigation, he has successfully litigated in appeals courts, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in arbitration.

Leif helps clients with intellectual property litigation and counseling. He leads teams of up to 10 or more attorneys in matters involving the electrical, mechanical and software fields in district court, Federal Circuit appeals, appearances before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and arbitration in the International Chamber of Commerce. Believing in the importance of being fully prepared to go to trial if necessary, he is driven to achieve the best possible results for clients and prides himself on looking for business solutions to resolve disputes. Leif also helps clients manage litigation in diverse venues.

Select Experience

  • As first chair, obtained jury's verdict for more than $6 million and $15 million in favor of a software company suing competitors for patent infringement.
  • Manage ligation in diverse venues for a large wind turbine company, including disputes in the International Trade Commission and U.S. District Court.
  • Successfully represented a technology company in front of the International Chamber of Commerce.
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Experience

  • As first chair, obtained jury's verdict for more than $6 million and $15 million in favor of a software company suing competitors for patent infringement.
  • Manage ligation in diverse venues for a large wind turbine company, including disputes in the International Trade Commission and U.S. District Court.
  • Successfully represented a technology company in front of the International Chamber of Commerce.
  • Represented a beverage company as a plaintiff in a trademark dispute in U.S. District Court resulting in a favorable settlement.
  • Represented a software company in multiple Covered Business Method proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
  • Enforced a patent against multiple infringers of a client’s Internet video software application, obtaining settlements from many infringers.
  • Secured a default judgment and sanctions of $1 million against a patent infringer on behalf of an electronic trading software company.
  • Obtained a multimillion-dollar jury verdict, which was affirmed on appeal, for a Chicago-based software company.
  • Obtained summary judgments for a maker of cable television set-top boxes that was sued for alleged patent infringement in two separate cases.
  • Represented a law firm accused of copyright infringement and obtained a dismissal with prejudice.
  • Represented a network and telecommunications equipment company in multiple patent infringement litigations.
  • Represented a maker of fiber-optic cable troughs in design and utility patent litigation.
  • Represented a medical device company in patent litigation. Focused on the damages portion of the case.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • The Legal 500 United States
    • Recommended in Intellectual Property: Patents: Litigation (Full Coverage) (2022)
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC): Top 100 Attorneys (2022)
  • IAM Patent 1000: The World's Leading Patent Practitioners
    • Illinois: Recommended for Patent Prosecution (2012 to 2020)
    • Illinois: Recommended for Patent Litigation (2021)
    • IAM Patent Litigation 250 (2011)
  • Leading Lawyers Network
  • Best Lawyers in America® (2013 to Present)
    • Illinois: Litigation – Intellectual Property
      • Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" (2019)
    • Illinois: Litigation – Patent
  • Illinois "Super Lawyer" (2005 to 2023)

Memberships

  • Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (IPLAC)
    • Patent Litigation Committee: Chair
  • American Bar Association
  • AIPLA
  • PTAB Bar Association
  • Licensing Executives Society
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Community

  • Chicago Yacht Club: Past Commodore

Prior Positions

  • McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP
    • Managing Partner (2002 to 2004, 2011)
    • Co-Chair: Litigation & Appeals Practice Group (2017)

Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Trial Bar
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Registration No. 35,680
  • Illinois
  • New Jersey
  • New York

Education

  • J.D., Delaware Law School - Widener University, magna cum laude; Delaware Journal of Corporate Law, Administrative Board, Business Manager
  • B.S., Electrical Engineering, Lafayette College