Robins, Kaplan, Miller, & Ciresi LLP

For 75 years, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. has been advocating on behalf of our clients. From individuals to newly established businesses to the world’s oldest and largest companies in a broad range of industries, we stand beside our clients to assess and manage risk through the life-cycle of their specific business goals and their most critical legal challenges-both in and out of the courtroom.

Standing at the intersection of justice and trial mastery, we leverage creativity, foresight and innovative solutions to provide lean, efficient, and results-driven representation to every client we serve. We deliver results for our clients by looking for ways to out-smart, out-think, and out-prepare our adversaries. We always try to stay one step ahead-shielding our clients from unexpected risk and positioning our cases for a resolution that best meets their interests.

We believe that everyone deserves equal access to our justice system regardless of race, religious beliefs, nationality or economic situation. This conviction has guided us since our inception and is at the heart of our extensive pro bono efforts and the work we do for the community through our firm’s private foundations.

CLEAN TECHNOLOGY PRACTICE

Companies operating in clean or green technologies need to anticipate, assess and capitalize on the industry’s ever-changing risks and opportunities. At Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., our Clean Technology Group has the sector-focused legal, business and scientific depth clean technology clients need to reach their business goals. Our team includes nationally-recognized business and intellectual property attorneys and nine Ph.D. science advisors and our attorneys and science advisors hold degrees in a wide variety of disciplines, including chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, materials science, and mechanical engineering. We support companies of every size across the entire technology supply chain with business counseling and litigation representation, monetization strategies for IP investments and representation in patent infringement, trade secret and other intellectual property disputes. Our practical, solution-driven advice and representation align with clients’ immediate needs and enable overall business objective and sustainability strategies.

Services

Whether it is business disputes or working with clean technology IP assets like patents, trade secrets, copyrights, or trademarks, our services include representation for:

Litigation
Arbitration
International Trade Commission proceedings
Patent and Trademark Office proceedings
Business counseling and advice
IP Monetization
Due diligence
Transactions
Licensing

Clients and Industries

We represent clients in industries across the clean technology spectrum, and we have experience in a wide range of technologies, including biofuels, sterilization processes, water soluble polymers, soil erosion, specialty chemicals, genetically engineered prokaryotes and eukaryotes, waste water treatment, extraction technologies, and thin film silicon solar modules. Our representations include clients in industries like:

Advanced materials
Agriculture and forestry
Air
Biofuels and biochemicals
Biotechnology
Business methods and financial vehicles
Computer Software
Consumer products
Conventional fuels
Electronics
Energy efficiency
Energy storage
Fuel cells and hydrogen
Hybrid and electric vehicle systems, architecture, and control
Mechanical
Polymers
Recycling and waste
Smart grid
Solar
Transportation
Water and wastewater
Wind

Selected Clean Technology Experience*

– Union Oil Company of California (“UNOCAL”) v. Atlantic Richfield Company, et al.: Represented UNOCAL in a patent infringement case over UNOCAL’s patent on gasoline. Jury verdict for $69 million in favor of UNOCAL on liability and damages and court judgment also in favor of UNOCAL on defendants’ claims that patent was unenforceable. With interest and attorney fees, the judgment in favor of UNOCAL amounted to $91 million. Verdict upheld on appeal (affirmed, 208 F.3d 989 (Fed.Cir. 2000).
– Talbert Fuel Systems Patents Company v. UNOCAL Corporation: Defense of patent infringement and judicial interference action in Central District of California. Summary judgment in favor of UNOCAL, affirmed by the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, certiorari granted, vacated, remanded by the U.S. Supreme Court. On October 28, 2003, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit unanimously ruled in favor of UNOCAL on all issues in this matter.
– Representation of industrial designer and developer of various life sciences and clean technology products in counseling on IP, IP monetization and disputes concerning IP.
– Representation of solar developer and designer in counseling on IP, IP monetization and disputes concerning IP.
– Representation of University that developed hybrid vehicle system technologies, and its exclusive licensee for such technologies, in a patent dispute with major automotive manufacturer.
– Trial counsel for Spanish engineering company in patent and trade secret litigation involving extraction technology for the production of high purity zinc. (Prior to joining Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.)
– Trial counsel for European and U.S. solar company in trademark litigation. (Prior to joining Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.)
– Trial counsel for U.S. technology company in patent litigation involving colloidal silica sols and particles for electronic applications such as chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). (Prior to joining Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.)
– Trial counsel for manufacturer of water-soluble polymers in patent litigation involving the use of water-soluble polymers for waste-water treatment. (Prior to joining Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.)
– Representation of high-tech industrial group in the areas of thin-film silicon solar modules, textile production and thin-film coatings in various patent-related actions and counseling. (Prior to joining Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.)
– Representation of a start-up developer of multiple vegetable oil biofuel technologies in counseling on IP. (Prior to joining Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.)
– Representation of manufacturer of water-soluble polymers in various opinions of counsel and counseling on patent issues concerning various technologies, including soil erosion and waste-water treatment. (Prior to joining Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.)

PRO BONO

Since 2008, over 7 percent of our total attorney billable time was contributed to pro bono.

We at Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. believe that everyone deserves equal access to our justice system, regardless of race, religious beliefs, nationality, or economic situation. Though we trust in our legal system, we also recognize that it is sometimes inaccessible to certain individuals, organizations and families. We work every day to provide that access.

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