Kurt Calia Named One of California's Top IP Lawyers

SILICON VALLEY—The Daily Journal has named Covington partner Kurt Calia to its list of the “Top Intellectual Property Attorneys in California for 2016.” The list recognizes California lawyers who have “pushed technological progress forward.”

The Daily Journal highlighted Mr. Calia’s successful representation of Elbit Systems in a patent litigation involving the helmet-mounted display systems used in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, one of the largest defense projects in history. The plaintiff alleged Elbit’s technology infringed its patent on sensor-based motion tracking pilot technology. 

Mr. Calia led a vigorous defense and successfully challenged the validity of plaintiff’s patent. Ultimately, the judge ruled that the helmet technology was based on mathematical principles, not an invention and found the patent to be directed to ineligible subject matter, and therefore invalid. 

Daily Journal’s “Top Intellectual Property Attorneys in California for 2016” list is featured in the publication’s August 17 issue.