Ryan Hargrave
Partner
Ryan Hargrave’s practice focuses on intellectual property disputes and complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts across the country, as well as the United States Patent and Trademark Office. She has successfully managed and tried matters spanning a broad range of technologies and industries, including pharmaceuticals, wireless networking, cellular networking, and downhole oilfield tools. Ryan is experienced and skilled in all aspects of complex litigation, from pre-filing investigation to post-trial briefing and appeal. Based on the successful results obtained for her clients, Ryan has been named to the annual Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars list of the state’s top young attorneys every year since 2014.
Before joining Skiermont Derby, Ryan was a principal in the Dallas office of McKool Smith.
Prior to law school, Ryan conducted research involving synthetic chemistry designed to create novel, electrochemically active molecules. While attending law school, Ryan was a notes and comments editor for the Houston Law Review and a judicial intern for Judge Jennifer Elrod of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Representative Matters
Represented Aptar in a patent infringement action against 3M and Merck relating to metered dose inhalers.
American Airlines.
Represented American Airlines in a patent infringement matter relating to systems and methods for data management.
MUSC Foundation for Research Development & Charleston Medical Therapeutics.
Represented MUSC and Charleston Medical Therapeutics in a patent infringement action against AstraZeneca regarding use of the pharmaceutical Crestor® to treat inflammation.
VirnetX Inc.
Represented VirnetX Inc. in patent infringement suit against Apple related to systems and methods for efficiently creating secure communications. Following a week-long trial, the jury found VirnetX’s patents valid and awarded VirnetX a verdict of $368 million in damages for Apple’s infringement.
Ericsson.
Represented Ericsson in a patent infringement lawsuit against Intel, Acer, Dell, Gateway, Toshiba, Netgear, and D-Link regarding 802.11n wireless technology. Following a jury trial in the Eastern District of Texas, a jury awarded over $10 million to Ericsson for the defendants’ infringement of Ericsson’s patented technology.
In re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig “Deepwater Horizon.”
Represented Halliburton and Sperry Sun, with focus on the development of expert and technical matters, in the MDL litigation related to the Macondo/Deepwater Horizon blowout.
Bedrock Computer Technologies.
Represented Bedrock in a patent infringement suit against Google involving methods for efficiently removing expired data from information storage and retrieval systems. Following a six-day trial in Tyler, Texas, the jury found the patent infringed, valid, and awarded a royalty to Bedrock.
Speaking Engagements, Presentations and Publications
Speaker; Managing Intellectual Property‘s International Women’s Leadership Forum; New York, NY, 06.06.2019
Author; “Proportionality of Discovery Under Amended Rule 26(b)”; Texas Lawyer, 04.01.2019
Contributor; “Daubert Challenges to Financial Experts;” PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Daubert Study
“Should Firms Take Ownership in Patents?” Texas Lawyer, 10.24.2011
Contact Information
Education
University of Houston Law Center
J.D., magna cum laude
Houston Law Review
Order of the Coif
Order of the Barons
University of Texas at Dallas
B.S., magna cum laude, Biochemistry