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Sid Leach

Sid Leach

Partner| Phoenix

Sid Leach’s practice includes intellectual property, patent and technology litigation, especially in the area of electronics and computer technology. He has litigated patent cases, trade secret cases, trademark cases, proceedings before the International Trade Commission, Patent Office interference proceedings, and copyright cases, including ex parte seizures of infringing goods, as well as deceptive trade practices and contract cases. In 2009, Sid obtained one of the top ten jury verdicts in Arizona. He has defended against multiple district court suits and ITC proceedings brought against electronics manufacturers by patent trolls, and recovered $2.26 million on claims of malicious prosecution and abuse of process asserted against patent trolls. Sid obtained another jury verdict resulting in a judgment of over $4 million in a malicious prosecution suit based upon a patent infringement case filed against his client without probable cause. He represented a publicly held electronics manufacturer in a number of patent cases involving litigation over patents covering math coprocessor chips, EPROMs, microprocessors, semiconductor manufacturing methods, DRAMs, sense amplifier circuits, and read-only memories, and successfully represented the same client in ITC proceedings.

Education

  • University of Virginia (J.D., 1978)
    • Business Manager, Law Weekly
  • University of Alabama Graduate School of Business MBA Program
  • University of Alabama (B.S.E.E., 1975)
    • Tau Beta Pi
    • Omicron Delta Kappa
    • Pi Mu Epsilon
    • Eta Kappa Nu

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Federal Bar Association, Phoenix Chapter, Board of Directors
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
  • Arizona Astronomy Board, Chairman of the Board
  • National Sharing the Sky Foundation, Chairman of the Board
  • University of Alabama President’s Cabinet
  • University of Arizona President’s Club
  • Texas Young Lawyers Association, Treasurer, Board of Directors
  • Capstone Engineering Society, Board of Directors

Representative Presentations and Publications

  • "Anything but Uniform: A State-by-State Comparison of the Key Differences of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act," Author (October 23, 2015)
  • "Discussion of Trade Secret Law in Each State (Part 1)," Author (October 23, 2015)
  • "Anything but Uniform: A State-by-State Comparison of the Key Differences of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act," Power Point Presentation (October 23, 2015)
  • "Figuring the Fine for False Patent Marking: How Should a Court Determine the Amount?," Co-Author, ABA Landslide magazine (May/June 2011)
  • "What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About Computer Forensic Evidence," Presenter/Co-Author, 11th Annual Intellectual Property Law Symposium, University of Texas Law School (February 19, 2010)
  • "Malicious Prosecution Claims Can Provide an Effective Remedy against Patent Litigation Extortion Schemes," Author, IP Litigator (March/April 2008)
  • "Malicious Prosecution Claims Can Provide an Effective Remedy against Patent Litigation Extortion Schemes," Author, Licensing Journal (November/December 2007)
  • "Ammunition for Defendants," Author, American Lawyer (September 2007)
  • "Troll Control," Author, Los Angeles Daily Journal (August 10, 2007)
  • "Patent Trolls Beware: Ethics and Consequences in Filing Patent Suits Without a Sufficient Pre-Filing Investigation," Presenter/Author, American Intellectual Property Law Association 2007 Spring Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts
  • "Rule 11 Requirements for Patent Litigation Pre-Filing Investigations," Presenter/Author, State Bar of Arizona Annual Convention 2007, Phoenix, Arizona
  • "Pre-Filing Investigations," Presenter/Author, 21st Annual Intellectual Property Law, Texas Bar, Austin, Texas
  • "Ethical Requirements of Pre-Filing Investigations in Patent Suits," Presenter/Keynote Speaker, Sixth Annual Hot Topics in Patent Law Symposium, George Mason School of Law, Arlington, Virginia
  • "Common Ethical Issues in Enforcing, Licensing and Managing Your IP," Presenter, American Intellectual Property Law Association Mid-Winter Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona
  • "Consequences When a Patent Troll Files a Patent Suit Without a Sufficient Pre-Filing Investigation," Presenter/Author, American Intellectual Property Law Association Advanced Patent Litigation Seminar, Portland, Oregon
  • "Ethical Rules Governing Pre-Filing Investigations in Patent Cases and the Consequences of Failing to Perform an Adequate Investigation," Presenter/Author, Ninth Annual IP Law Symposium, University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas
  • "Patent Law Handbook," Co-Author, published by Clark Boardman, Ltd. for three years
  • "Protecting and Enforcing Copyrights in Design and Construction," Presenter/Author, State Bar of Arizona Construction Law Section Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona
  • "Current International Legal Aspects of Licensing and Intellectual Property," Co-Editor, ABA National Institute
  • "Patent Litigation," Seminar Teacher, Lorman Education Services CLE Seminar, Phoenix, Arizona
  • "The Consequences of Falling to Perform an Adequate Pre-filing Investigation Before Filing a Patent Infringement Action," Author/Seminar Teacher, Dunes CLE Seminar, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • "Recent Developments," Column Author (Intellectual Property Law Section) for the Texas Bar Journal
  • "Patent Litigation - Trends and Developments," Presenter/Author, Maricopa County Bar Association CLE Program, Phoenix, Arizona
  • "Trademark Litigation," Seminar Teacher, Lorman Education Services CLE Seminar, Phoenix, Arizona
  • "Defending Trade Secret Misappropriation Claims - The Identification of Trade Secrets," Author, Arizona Association of Defense Counsel
  • "How to Sue in Small Claims Court, Author," Public Service Pamphlet, State Bar of Texas
  • "Landlord Tenant Law," Author, Public Service Pamphlet, State Bar of Texas

Professional Recognition and Awards

  • University of Arizona, Doctor of Science honorary degree (2017)
  • 2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Technology, American Lawyer Media and Martindale-HubbellTM (June 2013)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Copyright Law, Trademark Law (2013-2019), Intellectual Property Litigation (2007-2019), Patent Law (2011-2019), Patent Litigation (2012-2019), Trade Secrets Law (2017-2019)
    • Phoenix Lawyer of the Year, Trademark Law (2017)
    • Phoenix Lawyer of the Year, Patent Law (2012)
  • IP Stars, Managing Intellectual Property Magazine (2015-2018)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Business Edition, Intellectual Property Law (2012)
  • Arizona's Finest Lawyers
  • Southwest Super Lawyers®, Intellectual Property Litigation (2007, 2009, 2012-2019)
  • Super Lawyers®, Intellectual Property Litigation - Corporate Counsel Edition (2008-2010)
  • Top Ten Jury Verdict in Arizona (2009)

Other Professional Experience

  • Baker & Botts, Partner
  • Honigman, Miller, Schwartz and Cohn, Partner
  • Arnold, White & Durkee, Partner

Bar Admissions

  • Arizona
  • Texas
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office

Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Arizona
  • Supreme Court of Texas
  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States District Court, District of Arizona
  • United States District Court, Northern District of California
  • United States District Court, District of Colorado
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • United States District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court, Western District of Texas
  • United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • United States Court of Federal Claims