Professionals

Robert T. Vlasis III

Partner

Overview
Experience
Credentials
Insights & News

Robert co-leads the firm’s ITC – Section 337 practice. With nearly two decades of experience managing high-stakes, competitor litigation, Robert has first-chair ITC trial experience and has represented clients in 28 ITC investigations. Robert has a deep working knowledge of the ITC’s unique procedures and jurisprudence and is frequently called upon to litigate and advise on complex issues of first impression or with limited precedent.

Key Matters

Some of the experience represented below may have been handled at a previous firm.

Some of Robert’s representative ITC experience includes:

Certain Medical Programmers with Printed Circuit Boards, Components Thereof, and Products and Systems for Use with the Same, Inv. No. 337-TA-1396 – Lead trial counsel; obtained monetary settlement on the last day of trial following five years of protracted litigation at the ITC, district court, PTAB, and Federal Circuit.
Certain Integrated Circuits, Components Thereof, and Products Containing the Same, No. 337-TA-1350 – Obtained no violation finding from the ALJ on all 3 asserted patents, and no satisfaction of the economic prong of the domestic industry requirement.
Certain Pre-Filled Syringes for Intravitreal Injection and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-1207 – Obtained rare finding by the Office of Unfair Import Investigations (OUII) that the public interest record supported no relief even if a Section 337 violation were found, leading to complete withdrawal of complaint.
Certain Laparoscopic Surgical Staplers, Reload Cartridges, and Components Thereof, Inv. No.337-TA-1167 – Obtained Commission finding of a Section 337 violation on certain claims.
Certain Variable Speed Wind Turbine Generators and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-1218 – Obtained Commission finding of a Section 337 violation on certain claims.
Certain IoT Devices and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-1094 – Obtained termination of investigation on an early motion to dismiss.
Certain RF Capable Integrated Circuits and Products Containing the Same, Inv. No. 337-TA-982 – Obtained favorable motion in limine ruling leading to complete withdrawal of complaint on the eve of trial.
Certain Wireless Communication Devices, Portable Music and Data Processing Devices, Computers and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-745 – Obtained no violation finding on all six asserted patents.
Certain Electronic Devices with Multi-Touch Enabled Touchpads and Touchscreens, Inv. No.337-TA-714 – Obtained no violation finding on single asserted patent.
Certain Mobile Telephones and Wireless Communication Devices Featuring Digital Cameras, and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-703 – Obtained no violation finding on single asserted patent.

Some of Robert’s district court wins include:

Altria Client Services LLC v. RJ Reynolds Vapor Co., Case No. 1:20-cv-00472 (D.N.C.) – Created and led the damages strategy for plaintiff, eventually resulting in a $95 million jury verdict on patents directed to pod-style vaping devices; affirmed by the Federal Circuit.
Verinata Health, Inc. v. Ariosa Diagnostics, Inc., Case No. 3:12-cv-05501-SI (N.D. Cal.) – Obtained $27 million jury verdict and dismissal of $100 million counterclaims on patents directed to prenatal testing for the early diagnosis of fetal abnormalities such as Down Syndrome; affirmed by the Federal Circuit.
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. v. 10X Genomics Inc., Case No. 1:15-cv-00152-RGA (D. Del.) – Obtained $24 million jury verdict and permanent injunction on patents directed to foundational technology that allows thousands of microscopic “droplets” to serve as test tubes for chemical reactions with genetic material; affirmed by the Federal Circuit.

Recent Experience

ITC ALJ Issues Win for AMD

[Robert] can be looked to for seasoned advice on Section 337 investigations, as well as adroit counsel in all major patent arenas.

IAM Patent 1000

Vlasis is an ace in contentious arenas nationwide. A hit with innovative technology clients, he has a knack for distilling down complex cases, quickly getting to the crux of the matter at hand to develop winning litigation strategies.

IAM Patent 1000

Capabilities

ITC – Section 337

Patent Litigation

IP Licensing & Due Diligence

Antitrust/Competition

Commercial Litigation & Disputes

White Collar & Government Investigations

Intellectual Property

Public Companies

Medical Devices

Health Care

Technology, Media & Telecommunications

Life Sciences

Key Matters

Some of the experience represented below may have been handled at a previous firm.

Some of Robert’s representative ITC experience includes:

Certain Medical Programmers with Printed Circuit Boards, Components Thereof, and Products and Systems for Use with the Same, Inv. No. 337-TA-1396 – Lead trial counsel; obtained monetary settlement on the last day of trial following five years of protracted litigation at the ITC, district court, PTAB, and Federal Circuit.
Certain Integrated Circuits, Components Thereof, and Products Containing the Same, No. 337-TA-1350 – Obtained no violation finding from the ALJ on all 3 asserted patents, and no satisfaction of the economic prong of the domestic industry requirement.
Certain Pre-Filled Syringes for Intravitreal Injection and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-1207 – Obtained rare finding by the Office of Unfair Import Investigations (OUII) that the public interest record supported no relief even if a Section 337 violation were found, leading to complete withdrawal of complaint.
Certain Laparoscopic Surgical Staplers, Reload Cartridges, and Components Thereof, Inv. No.337-TA-1167 – Obtained Commission finding of a Section 337 violation on certain claims.
Certain Variable Speed Wind Turbine Generators and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-1218 – Obtained Commission finding of a Section 337 violation on certain claims.
Certain IoT Devices and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-1094 – Obtained termination of investigation on an early motion to dismiss.
Certain RF Capable Integrated Circuits and Products Containing the Same, Inv. No. 337-TA-982 – Obtained favorable motion in limine ruling leading to complete withdrawal of complaint on the eve of trial.
Certain Wireless Communication Devices, Portable Music and Data Processing Devices, Computers and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-745 – Obtained no violation finding on all six asserted patents.
Certain Electronic Devices with Multi-Touch Enabled Touchpads and Touchscreens, Inv. No.337-TA-714 – Obtained no violation finding on single asserted patent.
Certain Mobile Telephones and Wireless Communication Devices Featuring Digital Cameras, and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-703 – Obtained no violation finding on single asserted patent.

Some of Robert’s district court wins include:

Altria Client Services LLC v. RJ Reynolds Vapor Co., Case No. 1:20-cv-00472 (D.N.C.) – Created and led the damages strategy for plaintiff, eventually resulting in a $95 million jury verdict on patents directed to pod-style vaping devices; affirmed by the Federal Circuit.
Verinata Health, Inc. v. Ariosa Diagnostics, Inc., Case No. 3:12-cv-05501-SI (N.D. Cal.) – Obtained $27 million jury verdict and dismissal of $100 million counterclaims on patents directed to prenatal testing for the early diagnosis of fetal abnormalities such as Down Syndrome; affirmed by the Federal Circuit.
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. v. 10X Genomics Inc., Case No. 1:15-cv-00152-RGA (D. Del.) – Obtained $24 million jury verdict and permanent injunction on patents directed to foundational technology that allows thousands of microscopic “droplets” to serve as test tubes for chemical reactions with genetic material; affirmed by the Federal Circuit.