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Brian C. Riopelle

Partner

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Practices
Industries
Education
  • University of Virginia School of Law, JD, 1989
  • Yale University, BA, cum laude, with Distinction, 1984
Admissions
  • California
  • Virginia
Affiliations

Member, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation Board, 2012-present

Chair, Richmond Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Committee, 2001-2002

Member, Virginia State Bar Corporate Counsel Task Force, 2000-2002

Member, Richmond Bar Association Finance Committee, 2004-2006

Member, Richmond Bar Association Administration of Justice Committee, 2006-2007

Member, AIPLA, IPO, INTA, ABA

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Brian, chair of the firm's IP litigation/patents department and member of the Technology Oversight Committee, has been recognized as one of the leading intellectual property litigators in the nation. In March 2012, Benchmark Litigation recognized Brian as the "Virginia Litigator of the Year." The American Lawyer selected him as its "Litigator in the Spotlight" in its November 2011 issue, and he was named "Litigator of the Week" in the September 16, 2011 issue of Am Law Litigation Daily. Most recently, he was selected as one of the "2011 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America." He has been listed in Chambers USA as one of America's Leading Lawyers for intellectual property since 2004, and has been described by clients in that publication as a "top-notch litigator" and as a lawyer who "can find a solution when others cannot." He has also been recognized in Best Lawyers in America, as a Virginia "Super Lawyer," and as one of Virginia's "Legal Elite."

He has litigated patent and other intellectual property cases across the country, and has considerable experience in the Eastern District of Virginia, commonly known as the "Rocket Docket," a favorite venue for intellectual property litigants. Most recently, he was the lead trial lawyer for DuPont in its trade secret case against Kolon Industries. In that case, the jury awarded DuPont $919,900,000.

Brian was also the lead trial lawyer for Verizon Wireless and other wireless carriers in a patent infringement case brought by DNT LLC, a subsidiary of Acacia Research Corporation. The jury returned a verdict of non-infringement in favor of the wireless carriers, and also found the plaintiff's patent to be invalid.

Brian was also one of the lead trial lawyers in Verizon's patent infringement case against Vonage. In that case, the jury awarded Verizon $58 million, and the court entered an injunction against Vonage. After appeal, the case settled with a $120 million payment to Verizon.

Before starting his career in law, Brian spent an internship performing research in immunology, and was also a supervisor in the datacenter for a major Wall Street investment bank. He was an adjunct professor of law at the T.C. Williams School of Law. His experience also includes serving as law clerk to the Honorable Stephen V. Wilson of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

vCard
T: +1 804 775 1084F: +1 804 698 2150briopelle@mcguirewoods.comOne James Center
901 East Cary Street
Richmond, VA 23219-4030
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case.

Lead trial counsel for DuPont in trade secrets case involving Kevlar®. After eight-week trial, jury awarded DuPont $919.9 million, the largest verdict in Virginia history. E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company v. Kolon Industries, Inc.

Lead trial counsel for Verizon Wireless and other telecommunications carriers involving alleged patent infringement of wireless aircards. After trial, jury found non-infringement and the plaintiff’s patent invalid. DNT, LLC v. Sprint Nextel Corp., et al.

Lead trial counsel for Purdue Pharma in patent infringement case involving pharmaceutical product. The case settled favorably for our client after claim construction and with summary judgment motions pending. King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Purdue Pharma L.P.

Trial counsel for Verizon in its patent infringement case against Vonage involving Voice over Internet Protocol technology. After trial, the jury awarded Verizon $58 million, and the court entered an injunction against Vonage. After appeal, the case settled with a $120 million payment to Verizon. Verizon Services Corp. et al. v. Vonage Holdings Corp., et al.

Lead trial counsel for plaintiff in this patent infringement case involving wastewater treatment systems. After trial, the jury awarded damages and made a finding of willful infringement. American Manufacturing Company v. Lighthouse Treatment Systems, et al.

Trial counsel for Infineon in this patent infringement case involving SDRAM and DDR-SDRAM computer memory technology. Rambus, Inc. v. Infineon Technologies AG

Named a "Local Litigation Star," Virginia, Benchmark Litigation, 2013

Named to "The Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America," Intellectual Property, Lawdragon, 2012

Named “Virginia Litigator of the Year,” Benchmark Litigation, March 2012

Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation-Intellectual Property/Patent, Woodward/White, Inc., 2006-2013

Selected for inclusion in America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Intellectual Property, Southern Virginia, Chambers USA, 2004-2013

Named to "Virginia Super Lawyers," Intellectual Property Litigation, Business Litigation, Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2006-2013

Named to Virginia's "Legal Elite," Intellectual Property Law, Virginia Business, 2009-2012

Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, Trial Lawyer Honorary Society

AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

Speaker, "Pretrial Matters and Trial Preparation," The Rocket Docket 2010: Trying Cases in the Eastern District of Virginia, Virginia CLE, December 2010
Speaker, "Intellectual Property Damages," The Law of Damages in Virginia, Virginia CLE, July 2008
Speaker, "What To Do When You Get The Letter: Tips From Experienced Intellectual Property Litigators on What to Do When Your Client is Accused of Trademark Infringement or Trade Secret Misappropriation," Bar Association, 118th Annual Meeting, January 2008