John M. Williamson
Partner
John Williamson is a nationally recognized first-chair litigator with more than 25 years of experience handling patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation actions. John has litigated jury and bench trials before U.S. district courts across the country, state courts, arbitration panels, and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). Having recently completed a three-year term as leader of the firm’s litigation group, John’s practice centers on high stakes, complex IP disputes across a spectrum of technical disciplines including telecommunications, robotics, software, fintech, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and medical devices.
Experience
Promptu Systems Corporation v. Comcast Corporation
Obtained a $240 million jury verdict for client Promptu in a patent infringement lawsuit against Comcast. The jury found that Comcast willfully infringed Promptu’s patents covering voice recognition technology for TV.
2:16-cv-06516, E.D. Pa., Judge Sanchez
22-1939, Fed. Cir., Judges Prost, Moore, Taranto
Nuance Communications Inc,. v. Abbyy USA Software House Inc.
Represented ABBYY and Lexmark in a jury trial for a patent and trade dress case involving optical character recognition technology, obtaining complete defense jury verdict on all issues, and the client not liable for $260 million in alleged damages. The Federal Circuit affirmed the district court’s judgment.
3:08-cv-02912, N.D. Cal., Judge White
AgroFresh Inc. v. Decco U.S. Post-Harvest, Inc. et al.
Member of team representing defendants in action involving patent infringement, trade secrets, and tort claims relating to pre-harvest technology used with produce.
1:16-cv-00662, D. Del., Judges Fallon, Robinson, Bataillon, Noreika
Audio MPEG v. Action Electronics
Served as lead litigation counsel in breach of contract action regarding IP license agreement, obtaining favorable settlement.
CL12003829, 18th Judicial Circuit Court, Virginia
Cumberland Pharmaceuticals v. Mylan
Lead litigation counsel for Cumberland in breach of contract arbitration before AAA panel. Obtained successful outcome including worldwide injunction and attorney fee award.
AAA
Represented Tenneco in suit involving various trade secrets, tort, and breach of contract claims relating to damping technology for vehicle shock.
1:17-cv-05369, N.D. Ill., Judge Kennelly
Insights
Articles
The DTSA's 'Interstate Commerce Requirement': Has It Had an Impact?
April 24, 2024
Westlaw Today
Articles
How the FTC’s Proposed Ban of Non-compete Agreements Could Impact IP Litigation
May 9, 2023
IP LitigatorNews
Commentary
Finnegan Team Secures $240M Jury Verdict After PTAB Success
February 3, 2026
Managing Intellectual PropertyCommentary
How We Won: Promptu Counsel on Its $240M Victory Against Comcast
February 2, 2026
World Intellectual Property ReviewMedia Mention
Litigator of the Week Runners-Up and Shout-Outs: Promptu
January 30, 2026
The AmLaw Litigation DailyPress Release
Finnegan Secures $240 Million Jury Verdict for Promptu in Patent Case Against Comcast
January 26, 2026
Professional Activities
- District of Columbia Bar
(vice-chair and chair of Trade Secrets Committee, Intellectual Property Section, 2000-2006) - American Bar Association, IP Section
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO)
(vice chair, Trade Secrets Committee, 2019-2023; member, 2019-present) - Pauline Newman IP American Inn of Court
(board member, 2013-2023; president, 2017-2018)
Admissions
- Colorado
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
Education
- University of Colorado
- M.S., Telecommunications, 2003
- University of Colorado School of Law
- J.D., 2000
- University of Colorado
- B.A., Economics, 1997
Clerkships
- U.S. District Court, E.D. Virginia, Hon. Liam O'Grady
John's Practices
- Appeals, Issues, and Legal Strategy
- Appeals from the PTAB
- Federal Circuit and Supreme Court Appeals
- Global IP Enforcement, Litigation, and Trials
- Copyright
- Federal Circuit and Supreme Court Appeals
- ITC Section 337 Investigations and Trials
- Patent Litigation and Trials
- Pretrial Strategies
- Trade Secrets
- Trademark Litigation and Trials
- Patent Office Invalidation Proceedings
- PTAB Invalidation Proceedings: IPR and PGR
- Prosecution and Portfolio Management
- Freedom to Operate Opinions
- Licensing, Pooling, and Other Transactions
- Opinions and Counseling
John's Industries
- AI, Electronics, and Information Technology
- Electrical and Computer Technology
- Communications
- Financial Services and Business Systems
- Life Sciences
- Medical Device and Diagnostics
- Pharmaceutical