Practice Areas & Industries: Patton Boggs LLP

Practice/Industry Group Overview

Patton Boggs' litigation practice encompasses virtually every kind of litigable dispute: between businesses and government, between businesses and individuals, and between businesses. The subject matters include civil and criminal fraud, commercial and financial disputes, insurance recovery, professional negligence, officer and director liability, "toxic torts," government contract and construction, employment, international business, technology and intellectual property.

Our litigation practice knows no geographic boundaries. Our lawyers represent clients in state and federal courts and administrative agencies throughout the United States. They appear in judicial and administrative tribunals around the world, supported by a web of personal and professional relationships developed through the firm's extensive international practice. Whatever the locale, our clients are represented by experienced trial lawyers, including former United States and Assistant United States Attorneys, former litigators from numerous federal agencies, former federal and state judicial law clerks and nationally known trial lawyers with expertise in all facets of dispute resolution. These lawyers are supported by the finest support staff and well-designed technology.

Our litigators bring a problem-solver's eye to litigation. Contemporary disputes often demand multi-disciplinary strategies or innovative legal measures. A courtroom victory does not necessarily translate into a win in the court of public opinion. Sophisticated litigation strategy now regularly requires coordinated input from numerous legal disciplines coupled with consideration of public relations. Frequently, the conventional litigation effort must be combined with activities in non-courtroom forums, such as in a legislative, regulatory, political or public setting. Such thinking is quintessential Patton Boggs strategy.

Representative Matters:

Obtained $96.7 million judgment against the federal government for breach of contract to provide economically favorable regulation of savings and loans acquired out of government receivership.

Established new law with national impact for insurance policy holders by successfully arguing that the Third Circuit Court of Appeals should reject the holdings of other jurisdictions that general commercial liability policies exclude coverage of claims alleging infringement of trademarked brand names.

On appeal, won reversal of an adverse trial court ruling that had called into question the way a state's property taxes were levied, resulting in a tax decision worth $300-500 million countywide and $5-8 billion statewide.

Litigated and favorably settled a suit against the US Army and the EPA for $69 million in an upfront payment--plus the transfer of tens of millions of dollars in equipment--to purify the contaminated water supply of a major American city, guaranteeing clean water to 800,000 citizens for next 50 years.

Prevailed in jury trial regarding patent infringement of client's proprietary technology¿defendant found liable for willful infringement and client, a multinational medical device company, awarded substantial lost profit damages.