David M. Sullivan

Helping clients secure their most critical, and complicated, innovations

Regional and national clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small startups with emerging technologies, from energy or oilfield services companies to renowned public universities and developers of healthcare technologies, rely on David to obtain their valuable patent and trademark rights. His decades of practice bring pragmatic, efficient solutions to his client’s most challenging projects.

Ready and willing to go to trial

David is frequently engaged in adversarial intellectual property disputes. He has significant experience on patent infringement matters, in addition to his work on non-infringement, invalidity and freedom to operate opinions. David has been involved in a number of copyright and trademark cases and is often engaged to help clients efficiently resolve IP disputes.

Offering particular depth in energy and oilfield patent matters

David has cultivated a strong niche in energy-sector technologies, including downhole equipment, secondary production, well stimulation and refinery technologies. His experience in the prosecution and litigation of oil-field-related patents, together with his technical background in the field, is unusually extensive within the region.

Staying involved when intellectual property becomes part of a larger transaction

David’s practice also includes intellectual property licensing and transactional work. He provides due diligence and other support for the IP components of larger transactions, negotiates agreements involving the development or use of intellectual property, and helps clients to develop and maintain large IP portfolios. This work allows him to remain involved with clients beyond individual patent applications or disputes and to understand how their intellectual property can be monetized as part of broader business objectives