Haynes Boone's patent practice has earned top recognition across the country and across a variety of categories in the 2025 Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Patent 1000 legal directory. Sixteen partners in California, Colorado, Illinois, Texas and Washington, D.C. received top rankings along with six practice groups.
“Earning recognition across the board, Haynes Boone stands out with its top-notch patent offering, led by a team of adept litigators, known for their remarkable performances before the PTAB, alongside savvy prosecutors. The team excels in delivering customized, commercially astute solutions to a diverse clientele, underscoring the outfit’s dedication to premier advice and support,” IAM researchers said.
The following partners were ranked among the top lawyers in patent prosecution, litigation and transactions: Randall Brown, Tom Chen, Randall Colson, Russ Emerson, Eugene Goryunov, Alan Herda, Lee Johnston, Charlene Liu, David McCombs, Greg Michelson, Jeffrey Morton, David O’Brien, David O’Dell, Ken Parker, Mark Tidwell and Jeffrey Wolfson.
The IAM Patent 1000 features firms and individuals deemed outstanding in the patent practice. IAM interviewed more than 1,800 patent lawyers and in-house counsel over a five-month period to determine which firms and lawyers to include in the directory.
Below is a breakdown of rankings for the firm and partners, along with comments from researchers.
National:
The firm ranked nationally in the Post-Grant Proceedings category.
Texas:
In Texas, Haynes Boone ranked among the top firms in the Litigation category; as “Highly Recommended” in prosecution–one of only six firms in the state to receive this ranking; and as one of eight “Recommended” firms for transaction work.
Individual rankings include:
- Litigation: McCombs and Emerson
- Prosecution: Brown, Herda, McCombs, O’Brien and O’Dell
- Transactions: Colson, McCombs, O’Dell and Tidwell
Here is an excerpt of what researchers had to say about the lawyers:
- “Chair of the patent trials and licensing practice group, O’Dell has more than 25 years in the game, establishing himself as a prolific attorney with a track record of 100 inter partes review petitions. His stellar reputation at the PTAB precedes him, making him a trusted name in the field.”
- “Colson, as head of the technology transactions group, navigates complex deals with finesse, leveraging his background as a hardware and software designer.”
- “McCombs is renowned for his versatile and well-rounded practice.”
- “O’Brien leads the charge in the patent office trials practice group, wielding his expertise in inter partes reviews before the PTAB to benefit cutting-edge technology clients.”
- “Brown, known for his blend of creativity and meticulous attention to detail, shepherds patrons’ ideas through the patent application process, ensuring robust protection for their innovations.”
- “Tidwell’s strategic guidance and licensing expertise in technology transactions have solidified his standing.”
- “Herda seamlessly combines technical know-how with profound patent knowledge, crafting strong portfolios for those in the technology sector.”
- “Emerson’s strategic flair and finesse, often as lead counsel, in high-stakes litigations nationwide further complements the outfit’s comprehensive services.”
California:
The firm is “Recommended” in the Prosecution category in California, with IAM applauding the skills of Chen, Michelson, Morton, Liu and Parker.
Researchers stated:
- "An esteemed member of the firm’s executive committee, Chen comes armed with profound technical acumen and strategic insights concerning clients’ distinct patent-related challenges. He has been the leading figure in dealing with some of the firm’s biggest names.”
- “Orange County Administrative Partner Michelson is renowned for providing watertight IP strategy and patent counsel on high-value patent portfolios.”
- "Morton is a familiar name among life sciences companies, with clients benefiting from his sage counsel.”
- “Impressive Liu graces the ensemble with her advanced technical and legal knowledge. She combines this with her background in electrical engineering to provide quality counsel and portfolio management relating to emerging technology and innovation."
- “Heading the firm’s ITC Section 337 litigation group, Parker shines as a leading litigator, adeptly steering patent and trademark infringement cases of various Fortune 500 companies toward success. Parker is also actively engaged in international IP enforcement across Europe and Asia.”
Illinois:
The firm is ranked in the Litigation category in Illinois, and Goryunov is individually ranked.
Researchers stated:
- “A standout figure is inter partes review team lead and seasoned trial lawyer Goryunov. From consumer goods to cutting-edge technologies, he skillfully navigates post-grant review trials with finesse, serving as first-chair trial counsel at the USPTO and federal courts nationwide. His wealth of experience and courtroom prowess has garnered the trust of notable players.”
Colorado:
Johnston was ranked individually among the top lawyers in Litigation.
D.C. Metro Area:
Wolfson was recommended and ranked individually in the Patent Prosecution category.
