T. Vann Pearce, Jr.

Vann wins difficult intellectual property disputes, and helps clients use their intellectual property to build their companies.

• Engagements

  • Mr. Pearce represented a leading technology company in several appellate matters against a competitor involving patents related to touchscreen and wireless communication technology. In the first of these matters, the Federal Circuit overturned ITC rulings that one of our client’s key patents was both anticipated and obvious, and reversed the dispositive claim construction on a second patent. These rulings revived our client’s claims of infringement as to both patents at issue. Law360 named Mr. Pearce and his colleagues "Legal Lions" for this victory (August 8, 2013). In another case, Mr. Pearce was instrumental in our client’s successful effort to reverse an unfavorable claim construction on a patent covering touchscreen control functionality.
    
  • EMC Corp. v. Pure Storage, Inc. (D. Del.). Mr. Pearce represented plaintiff EMC in a patent infringement lawsuit against its competitor, Pure Storage. Mr. Pearce directed preparation of EMC's damages case, and the infringement and validity case on one asserted patent, through expert discovery. He also successfully argued a discovery motion hearing. A jury awarded EMC $14 million in damages after trial.
  • Fujifilm Corp. v. Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG (D.D.C. and PTAB).  Mr. Pearce represents Fujifilm in this patent infringement litigation involving digital cameras, including serving as lead counsel on two inter partes review petitions. The Orrick team lead by Mr. Pearce obtained a final decision from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board ruling all challenged claims unpatentable.  
  • WordCheck Tech LLC v. EMC Corp. (E.D. Tex.). Mr. Pearce represented EMC in a patent infringement lawsuit involving data loss prevention systems. Following the claim construction hearing, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed case with prejudice, with no monetary payment required by our client.
  • In the Matter of Certain Short-Wavelength Light Emitting Diodes, Laser Diodes and Products Containing Same, Inv. No. 337-TA-640. Mr. Pearce represented respondent Panasonic Corporation in an ITC Section 337 investigation. The complainant voluntarily withdrew its complaint and terminated the investigation shortly before the hearing.
  • St. Clair Intellectual Property Consultants, Inc. v. Fujifilm Corp. (D. Del. and Fed. Cir.). Mr. Pearce represented defendant Fujifilm Corporation in two patent infringement lawsuits involving digital cameras. Mr. Pearce's responsibilities included defending fact and expert witness depositions. On appeal, the Federal Circuit ruled in favor of Fujifilm and reversed the district court's judgment of infringement.
  • Mr. Pearce represented a leading technology company in an appeal involving smartphones, successfully upholding a jury verdict of invalidity. The Federal Circuit issued a summary (Rule 36) affirmance in favor of our client shortly after oral argument. 
  • FastVDO, LLC v.  Panasonic Corp. (D. Del.). Mr. Pearce represented several defendants in a patent infringement lawsuit involving H.264 video encoding. The defendants won on all key claim constructions in a ruling issued just four days after the claim construction hearing. Mr. Pearce was a primary author of the winning claim construction briefs. The case settled shortly afterwards on favorable terms.