William J. Barrow

• Patent Litigation. Bill has litigated patent infringement cases from inception through trial, on the plaintiff and defendant side. His litigation experience spans nearly fifteen years and countless industries, with a particular emphasis on consumer electronics, telecommunications, software, and automobiles. Bill advises clients on all aspects of litigation strategy, including patent portfolio review and other forms of pre-suit due diligence. Bill played a critical role in obtaining a $43.3 million verdict from ZTE USA on behalf of Maxell, Ltd., conducting direct and cross examinations of key technical witnesses at trial. Bill has also secured numerous early favorable settlements for clients in defensive patent litigations.
• Post-Grant USPTO Proceedings. Bill has extensive experience challenging and defending patents in inter partes review (IPR) before the US Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Bill began his career prosecuting electrical and computer software patents, and is often sought out for his understanding of the interplay between litigation and USPTO procedure. His experience in this regard leads to the early identification of favorable case strategies and mechanisms for implementing those strategies in concert with his clients’ business goals.
• Transactional Practice. Bill also leverages his technical and IP expertise to counsel clients on corporate IP matters. Bill has experience evaluating IP issues in commercial transactions, including conducting IP due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and strategic alliances.

Bill is frequently invited to speak and write on complex intellectual property issues, including litigation strategy, licensing, post-grant proceedings before the USPTO, and IP valuation, as well as emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, cryptocurrency, NFTs, and the metaverse. Bill has also held leadership positions in a number of prominent legal/IP organizations. For example, Bill is a former Chair of the American Intellectual Property Law Association’s (AIPLA) Patent Litigation Committee, and presently serves on the organization’s invitation-only Amicus Committee. Bill is also a former Chair of the National Bar Association’s (NBA) IP Section. In 2018, Mayer Brown selected Bill as its sole Fellow for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s (LCLD) Fellowship Program. Since then, Bill has served as a City Lead for LCLD’s Alumni and Success in 1L Mentoring Programs, and on LCLD’s Alumni Leadership Symposium Committee.

Active on many firm committees, Bill is also the founder and a Co-Chair of Mayer Brown Black Lawyers (DC), an affinity group Bill established to foster and promote the recruiting and retention of African-American attorneys in the firm’s DC office.

Bill has been named a “DC Rising Star” by the National Law Journal for his influence in his practice area, demonstrated leadership qualities, and significant community impact. Bill has also been consistently recognized as a "Rising Star" in intellectual property by Super Lawyers.

• Represented General Motors against allegations of patent infringement regarding vehicle stereo systems in E.D. Tex. Role included managing technical module of case, and developing technical and licensing positions for same; arguing claim terms at Markman hearing; and taking and defending fact and expert depositions.
• Represented Mitsubishi Electric before ITC against allegations of patent infringement regarding Smart TVs. Role included developing technical positions for patents; and taking and defending fact and expert depositions.
• Represented Hyundai and Kia before ITC against allegations of patent infringement regarding in-dash GPS navigation systems. Role included managing technical module of case; managing team of associates on technical and discovery-related issues; and taking and defending fact and expert depositions.

• Co-Chair and Founder of Mayer Brown Black Lawyers (DC)
• American Bar Association
• Federal Circuit Bar Association
• ITC Trial Lawyers Association
• Rebuilding Together DC Alexandria, Board Member