Michael Pohl

Senior Associate
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

Austin
United States
T:+1 512 536 3113
Austin
United States
T:+1 512 536 3113
Michael Pohl

Michael Pohl

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Biography

Michael has extensive experience handling patent disputes, where his rigorous, evidence-focused approach has brought success for both patent challengers and patent owners.  His practice largely includes challenging and defending the validity of patents in inter partes reviews (IPRs) and post grant reviews (PGRs) at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and in ex parte reexaminations at the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU).  Michael has also represented clients in federal courts, including in the United States District Courts for the Western and Southern Districts of Texas.  When handling patent disputes, Michael draws from his broad experience in both post-grant proceedings and district court litigation to formulate comprehensive strategies to effectively resolve disputes in his clients' favor.

Michael also prepares and prosecutes both utility and design patent applications in a number of jurisdictions, where he further leverages his experience handling patent disputes to obtain strong patent protection for his clients.  The applications he has prepared and prosecuted cover a wide range of technologies, including microfluidics, deep sea drilling equipment, composite structures, personal hygiene products, pulp and paper, and medical devices.  He has prior experience working at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, which gives him a unique perspective in these patent-prosecution-related matters.

Michael also has experience in transactional matters, including drafting licensing agreements and performing freedom-to-operate analyses.

Professional experience

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JD, summa cum laude, Duke University School of Law, 2017
BS, Aerospace Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013

In law school, Michael was active in the Duke Law Journal. He is a member of the Order of the Coif.

  • Texas State Bar
  • US Patent and Trademark Attorney
  • Represented multinational company in a design patent dispute with a competitor and assisted in the negotiation of a favorable license.
  • Represented nutritional supplement company accused of infringing patents related to supplements for reducing blood pressure and increasing exercise performance.  Successfully invalidated all claims of one of the asserted patents as indefinite at the Markman stage.  The case subsequently settled on favorable terms.
  • Represented multinational telemedicine and virtual healthcare company in five IPRs filed by competitors in connection with a patent dispute.  Case settled on favorable terms.
  • Prepared and filed IPR petition on behalf of a waste and recycling equipment manufacturer that resulted in the invalidation of a competitor's patent.
  • Represented Fortune 500 oilfield services company in two IPRs filed by a competitor.  Filed a defensive ex parte reexamination to pursue claim amendments in response to the prior art asserted in the IPRs.  Successfully gained allowance of all amended claims in the reexamination and termination of the IPRs after a favorable settlement.
  • Represented artificial lift company in a patent dispute with a competitor, including filing a successful IPR that resulted in the invalidation of all challenged claims of the competitor's patent.

2020 USPTO Practitioner Recognition for Pro Bono Service

Ex parte reexaminations, 28th Annual Advanced Patent Law Institute, November 2, 2023

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