The 2016 Intellectual Property Hot List: Covington & Burling

Ranga Sudarshan and Kurt Calia are quoted in The National Law Journal’s profile of Covington for the “2016 Intellectual Property Hot List.” In its story, NLJ highlighted the firm’s successful representation of Elbit Systems in a patent infringement case with military contractor Thales Visionix involving the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The Covington defense team argued that Thales' patent was invalid because it claimed ownership of a law of nature. According to Sudarshan, "No matter how you look at it, the claim was to a law of nature, and you can't claim that for yourself, even if you claim to have discovered it." 

Calia added, "It was one of those instances where you know the oral arguments made a big difference." The case showed Covington's ability to grasp the technical points of an intellectual property case but also convey the "bigger picture," Calia said.