Leslie M. Schmidt, P.C.
Overview
Leslie is a partner in Kirkland’s New York office. Her practice focuses on patent and trade-secret litigation. Leslie has substantial trial experience, and since 2019, has represented clients in IP litigations that resulted in jury verdicts of over $1.8 billion in damages and the entry of several permanent injunctions. Leslie’s practice involves a wide range of technologies, including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, medical devices, semiconductors, mobile devices, software, batteries, and oil and gas technology. Leslie also has experience with appellate litigation before the Federal Circuit and has argued before the Seventh Circuit. Leslie is a consistent recipient of Kirkland’s Pro Bono Service Award, and currently supervises the veterans benefits program in the New York office.
Leslie was named to the “40 & Under Hot List” by Benchmark Litigation in 2020–2022. She was recognized as a 2019 “Rising Star” in Intellectual Property Litigation by IPLaw360. She was also included in IPLaw360’s “Legal Lions” feature in February 2020 for her work for Motorola Solutions.Experience
Representative Matters
Represented TriZetto and its parent company, Cognizant Technology Solutions, in a trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition and breach of contract matter against Syntel, involving healthcare software systems. Developed damages strategy that resulted in an award of $285 million in compensatory damages, out of $855 million total jury verdict.
Represented Apcon, Inc. in six patent case related to network technologies brought by Gigamon, Inc. in the Eastern District of Texas. Developed damages strategy to defend against infringement accusation that implicated all of Apcon’s revenues. The jury returned a verdict finding no infringement and that all six patents were invalid.
Represented Motorola Solutions in the Northern District of Illinois in trade secret misappropriation and copyright infringement litigation related to two-way radios. Obtained $765 million jury verdict, including $418 million in punitive damages.
Represented Eagle View Technologies in the District of New Jersey in a six-patent assertion against competitor in aerial rooftop imagery and analytics. Developed damages strategy that supported $125 million jury verdict and permanent injunction.
Represented leading technology company in ITC Investigation brought by patent assertion entity seeking to exclude company’s flagship products from the U.S. based on allegedly essential cellular patents. Led development of FRAND defenses, including coordination of fact witnesses and three experts. Obtained finding that patents were not infringed.
Represented Ulterra Drilling Technologies in the Southern District of Texas in defensive multi-patent litigation related to drill bit designs and features.
Represented Hospira, Inc., Celltrion, Inc. and Celltrion Healthcare Co., Ltd. in the District of Massachusetts in litigation related to biosimilar version of Janssen’s multi-billion dollar drug Remicade®. Obtained summary judgment of non-infringement based on ensnarement.
Represented leading telecommunications carrier in litigation brought by patent assertion entity seeking more than $200 million in damages for alleged infringement of patent on network encoding scheme. Obtained summary judgment of non-infringement.
Represented BASF and Argonne National Laboratories in successful assertion of their patents relating to nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) in the International Trade Commission (ITC) and District of Delaware. In the ITC action, the Commission found Umicore committed both induced and contributory infringement and issued a limited exclusion order banning imports of Umicore’s accused NMC materials.
Represented WesternGeco LLC in its assertion of patents relating to marine seismic exploration technology against ION Geophysical Corp. and Fugro-Geoteam. Obtained $105.9 million jury verdict against ION (WesternGeco’s claims against Fugro-Geoteam were settled favorably mid-trial). Successfully petitioned the Supreme Court for certiorari twice, which allowed for recovery of enhanced damages and reversed Federal Circuit’s denial of lost profits award.
Clerk & Government Experience
ClerkHonorable Arthur J. GajarsaUnited States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit2010–2011
More
Thought Leadership
Publications
“Does Nautilus Avoid the ‘Zone of Uncertainty?’” ABA News & Development, 6/20/2014
Recognition
“40 & Under Hot List,” Benchmark Litigation, 2020–2022
Recipient, Kirkland & Ellis LLP Pro Bono Service Award 2008–2010, 2012–2015, 2017
“Legal Lion,” Law360, August 2016, January 2018, June 2018
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 2008Massachusetts
- 2009District of Columbia
- 2010New York
Courts
- United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
- United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Languages
- English
- French
Education
- Boston College Law SchoolJ.D.cum laude2008
Boston College Law School Alumni Association Award
Editor in Chief of the Law and Religion Program
- University of Notre DameB.S., Chemistrycum laude2004