ProfessionalsSutton Ansley
Tel: +1-202-381-5033
Fax: +1-202-403-3753
sansley@paulweiss.com
Sutton Ansley is a partner in Paul, Weiss’s Washington, D.C., office and a member of the firm’s Patent Litigation practice. He focuses on Section 337 investigations before the U.S. International Trade Commission, district court patent litigation and inter partes reviews before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Sutton has represented clients in litigations involving medical devices, pharmaceuticals, genomics, wind turbine technology, turbofan engines, consumer products and packaging, metallurgy, computer architecture, semiconductors, cable set-top boxes, software, smartphones and network communications and protocols. In 2023, Sutton was recognized by the National Law Journal as one of just 40 “D.C. Rising Stars,” and named to Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under List,” which recognizes “top emerging talent” in U.S. litigation. In 2024, he was once again named to Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under List” and was also included on Lawdragon’s “500 X – The Next Generation” list.
Sutton possesses a broad skillset from his years of litigation experience. His trial work includes conducting examinations of expert witnesses, Markman hearings and oral arguments before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, as well as case management and crafting litigation strategy. He also counsels clients on IP licensing arrangements, including those leading up to or resulting from corporate mergers and acquisitions.
EXPERIENCE
Sutton’s representative matters have included:
- a tobacco products company in multi-venue disputes with competitors over e-vapor and smoking cessation technology, including a Middle District of North Carolina case that resulted in a jury verdict awarding the company $95 million in damages for past infringement of its patents, as well as ongoing royalties, and investigations before the U.S. International Trade Commission;
- a renewable energy company in district court litigation and inter partes review proceedings adverse to a competitor, relating to wind turbine patents;
- a chemical company in district court litigation, inter partes review proceedings and Federal Circuit appeals spanning both patent and antitrust law and relating to drag reducing chemical for petroleum pipeline operations;
- a pharmaceutical company in district court litigation, inter partes review proceedings and Federal Circuit appeals relating to insulin formulations and insulin delivery devices;
- a life sciences company in district court litigation relating to droplet digital PCR;
- a life science company in district court litigation relating to cell-free DNA testing;
- various broadcast networks in litigations concerning the delivery of video streaming services;
- a major technology company in district court litigation involving claims of infringement of nine patents relating to software user interfaces and cable set-top boxes;
- an athletic apparel company in a district court litigation brought by a competitor accusing the company and its subsidiary of infringing 13 patents related to wearable technology and mobile fitness applications;
- a software company in multi-front district court litigation and inter partes review proceedings adverse to a competitor, relating to speech recognition, computer-assisted physician documentation and transcription technology; and
- a semiconductor manufacturer in separate ITC cases filed by and against a competitor that sought to block importation of televisions incorporating the client’s chipsets.
Sutton has also dedicated his time to pro bono matters including preserving the safety and rights of a class of foster care children in state custody, ensuring access to certain accommodations for deaf and hard of hearing inmates and resolving a complex legal dispute for a local small-business owner. In one matter where the client faced persistent barriers to settlement, Sutton persuaded the mediator to apply pressure to the adverse party in order to achieve a favorable resolution of the case.
Sutton has given talks and led panels on various legal issues from IP procedure and practice to global IP trends.