Practice Expertise

  • Advertising and Marketing Litigation
  • Advertising and Marketing Compliance and ...
  • Advertising and Marketing
  • Advertising Compliance and Counseling

Areas of Practice

  • Advertising and Marketing
  • Advertising and Marketing Compliance and ...
  • Advertising and Marketing Litigation
  • Advertising Compliance and Counseling
  • Advertising Litigation
  • Antitrust and Consumer Protection
  • Business Litigation
  • Colleges and Universities
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Competition and Consumer Protection
  • Consumer Products
  • Cyber Investigation and Privacy Litigation
  • Cyber Investigations and Privacy Litigation
  • Energy Sector Security Team
  • Intellectual Property
  • International Trade Commission Section 337 ...
  • Life Sciences
  • Life Sciences Industry
  • Litigation
  • Patent Litigation
  • View More

Profile

Michael Oakes handles complex civil disputes, with a focus on patent litigation and other intellectual property and technology-related matters before federal district courts and the US International Trade Commission.

He has experience with patents in a variety of fields, including semiconductors and electronics, software, computer networking and Internet technology, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive and nuclear manufacturing technology.

Michael also advises clients on data security and privacy issues. He is experienced in handling the investigative and legal response to network intrusions and data breach events and has represented clients in class action litigation and regulatory investigations involving claims arising out of these incidents. He also advises clients on liability issues related to the use of technology and the Internet, including issues related to cloud computing, online sweepstakes and related marketing programs.

Michael is admitted to practice in the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the 4th Circuit, and the US District Courts for the Eastern District of Texas, Eastern District of Virginia and the Western District of Michigan. He is also registered to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Relevant Experience

  • Lead trial counsel for a data security company asserting multiple patents relating to cryptography and access control against multiple Fortune 100 defendants. After a week-long jury trial against one defendant, obtained a verdict finding all of the asserted patents valid and infringed.
  • Lead counsel for a Fortune 50 retailer as a Respondent in an ITC investigation related to eleven patents pertaining to LED lighting circuits and control systems, implicating over 100 accused products. Secured a complete victory after a five day trial, with the Commission finding no violation of Section 337 for all asserted patents.
  • Lead counsel for a Fortune 50 retailer in a patent infringement action related to LED string lighting in the Central District of California. Court granted summary judgment of invalidity due to anticipation, despite the USPTO finding the patent valid over the same prior art in a inter partes review filed by another party.
  • Represented a leading Internet company in a jury trial in the Southern District of Texas relating to claims that the company infringed three streaming media patents. Case settled favorably during trial.
  • Represented an automotive manufacturer in the Southern District of Texas against claims that its manufacturing processes infringed a high speed laser welding patent. Plaintiff’s claims were dismissed on summary judgment following a favorable claim construction ruling.
  • Represented a major electronics company in a four-week jury trial in New Jersey District Court relating to claims that the company infringed three semiconductor memory patents. The defense verdict was highlighted in The National Law Journal's 2007 Defense Hot List.
  • Represented a manufacturer seeking an injunction against a competitor arising out of trade secret misappropriation and patent infringement claims in the Western District of Virginia. Case settled favorably after motion for preliminary injunction was granted.
  • Represented a major international bank and payment processor victimized by network security breach and theft from ATM network during investigation and subsequent litigation.
  • Represented an international retail chain following a network intrusion. Coordinated internal investigation, represented company in obtaining dismissal of multiple class action lawsuits, and represented company in response to FTC inquiry into data security practices.
  • Advised multiple clients on legal issues arising out of credit card skimming incidents.
  • Represented several companies in assessing risks associated with moving to cloud computing environments.

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Virginia
  • US Patent and Trademark Office

Education
BA, University of Virginia, Biology, 1996

Areas of Practice

  • Advertising and Marketing
  • Advertising and Marketing Compliance and Regulatory Counseling
  • Advertising and Marketing Litigation
  • Advertising Compliance and Counseling
  • Advertising Litigation
  • Antitrust and Consumer Protection
  • Business Litigation
  • Colleges and Universities
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Competition and Consumer Protection
  • Consumer Products
  • Cyber Investigation and Privacy Litigation
  • Cyber Investigations and Privacy Litigation
  • Energy Sector Security Team
  • Intellectual Property
  • International Trade Commission Section 337 Litigation
  • Life Sciences
  • Life Sciences Industry
  • Litigation
  • Patent Litigation

Professional Career

Significant Accomplishments
  • Represented a leading Internet company in a jury trial in the Southern District of Texas relating to claims that the company infringed three streaming media patents. Case settled favorably during trial. 
  • Represented an automotive manufacturer in the Southern District of Texas against claims that its manufacturing processes infringed a high speed laser welding patent. Plaintiff’s claims were dismissed on summary judgment following a favorable claim construction ruling. 
  • Represented a major electronics company in a four-week jury trial in New Jersey District Court relating to claims that the company infringed three semiconductor memory patents. The defense verdict was highlighted in The National Law Journal's 2007 Defense Hot List. 
  • Represented a manufacturer seeking an injunction against a competitor arising out of trade secret misappropriation and patent infringement claims in the Western District of Virginia. Case settled favorably after motion for preliminary injunction was granted. 
  • Represented a major international bank and payment processor victimized by network security breach and theft from ATM network during investigation and subsequent litigation. 
  • Represented an international retail chain following a network intrusion. Coordinated internal investigation, represented company in obtaining dismissal of multiple class action lawsuits, and represented company in response to FTC inquiry into data security practices. 
  • Advised multiple clients on legal issues arising out of credit card skimming incidents. 
  • Represented several companies in assessing risks associated with moving to cloud computing environments.


Professional Associations

  • Member, Subcommittee on Patent Litigation, American Bar Association


Articles

  • 2015 Patent Damages Year in Review
  • 2013 Patent Damages Year In Review
  • 2016 Patent Damages Year in Review
  • 2015 Patent Damages Year In Review, IP Frontline
  • 2014 Patent Damages Year In Review

Meet our Firms and Professionals

WSG’s member firms include legal, investment banking and accounting experts across industries and on a global scale. We invite you to meet our member firms and professionals.