Michael L. Kiklis
Founder, Kiklis Law Firm, PLLC
Mike@kiklislaw.com
For over 30 years, Mike has been called upon by industry-leading technology companies to handle some of their most important patent-dispute matters. He focuses his practice on trials at the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), Federal Circuit appeals, and patent litigation. He is often called upon to handle cases worth more than $100 million. He has handled 100 PTAB trials and over 20 appeals to the Federal Circuit.
Mike has an extensive background in computer science based on his six years of experience as a software developer at some of the computer industry’s leading companies as well as his academic background, holding both a BS and MS in computer science.
Mike is a frequent speaker and author on cutting-edge, patent-law topics. He is the author of The Supreme Court on Patent Law, an 800-page treatise devoted to the Supreme Court’s patent law jurisprudence and a co-author on PLI’s post grant treatise (1st edition). He is perhaps best known for his long history of writing and speaking on patentable subject matter under 35 U.S.C. § 101, including numerous articles and speeches at bar associations and professional organizations. In fact, he has been presenting a webinar on patentable subject matter 3-4 times per year since 2014 that is both very popular and highly rated. Audiences call his webinars “fantastic practical advice” with “comprehensive content” and his written materials “fantastic.” He also provides consistent, patentable-subject-matter updates in the news/insights section.
Experience
- Lead counsel representing a large technology company as petitioner in 5 related inter partes review (IPR) proceedings.
- Lead counsel for Life Technologies Corp. in a Federal Circuit Appeal stemming from a PTAB decision in a covered business method proceeding (CBM). Mike represented Life Technologies in two CBM proceedings: one was filed in 2014 and the other was filed in 2015. Life Technologies prevailed in both proceedings with the PTAB finding that all challenged claims of Unisone Strategic IP Inc.’s inventory management patent recited ineligible subject matter pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 101. This appeal involved the second CBM. Unisone chose not to appeal the first CBM. The Federal Circuit heard oral argument and then affirmed the PTAB’s decision less than one week later.
- Counsel in approximately 100 IPR and CBM proceedings at the PTAB. Many of Mike’s cases involve a co-pending proceeding, such as at the district court, the Federal Circuit, or the Supreme Court.
- Served as lead counsel in a group of 24 related IPRs for a large Oil Services company.
- Represented a software company in the successful enforcement of its patent against virtually an entire industry of over thirty companies — including Microsoft and IBM — in two patent litigations in the Eastern District of Texas, resulting in a favorable settlement.
- Represented a major computer company in its landmark antitrust case against Microsoft, resulting in a $1.95 billion settlement.
- Co-counsel on the first CBM filed at the PTAB.
- Represented a national organization of legal professionals as co-author of a Supreme Court amicus brief in Bilski & Warsaw v. Kappos.
- Represented a financial services company in defense of a claim of patent infringement on a business method patent, resulting in a favorable settlement.
- Represented a trade association as co-author of a Supreme Court amicus brief in Quanta Computer, Inc. v. LG Electronics, Inc.
- Represented several large software/computer companies in cross-licensing negotiations with IBM and other high technology companies.
- Represented a large computer company as opinion counsel in defense of a software patent infringement case where over $1 billion was at stake; the plaintiff dropped its willfulness claim.
Accolades
- Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners – Named to IAM’s list of the top 1000 patent attorneys in the world; recognized in the Washington, D.C. Metro Area for patent Litigation (2014-2025)
- Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars – Listed as one of 2013 - 2025's IP Stars in the United States, as well as DC/Virginia, by Managing Intellectual Property
- Boston University Metropolitan College Computer Science Distinguished Alumni Award – This award was presented at the 30th anniversary celebration of Computer Science at Boston University.
- Patent and Trademark Office Society’s Rossman Award – This award is given annually to the author of the article in the Society’s Journal that, in the opinion of the judges, makes the greatest contribution to the field of patents, trademarks or copyrights.
Education
- Syracuse University College of Law - J.D., magna cum laude,1993
- Boston University - M.S. Computer Science, 1988
- University of Massachusetts Lowell - B.S. Computer Science, 1985
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia