Covington & Burling LLP operates as a limited liability partnership worldwide, with the practice in England and Wales conducted by an affiliated
limited liability multinational partnership, Covington & Burling LLP, which is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware in the United States
and authorized and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with registration number 77071..
George Pappas is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, which is composed of the best of the trial bar and is widely considered to be the premier professional trial organization in America, and was Chairman of its Complex Litigation Committee (2009-2011). Ranked in the top tier of lawyers for Intellectual Property Litigation by Chambers Global and Chambers USA which notes that he is "a leading light in the market," clients have described George as "an excellent attorney and litigator," "a class apart," and commented that he "has tremendous presence in the courtroom and understands the legal issues very well. He is both thorough and unrelenting." His peers have commented that "he is a fantastic lead trial lawyer and, though very tough to compete against, is a true gentleman."
George also has significant appellate experience, having appeared before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and in the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 7th Circuits.
George has served as lead trial counsel in hundreds of cases, having appeared in federal and state courts throughout the United States and internationally. He has successfully represented clients in numerous complex, high-stakes cases, with particular experience in the pharmaceutical, medical devices, and technology sectors.
George is also Chairman of the Editorial Committee and one of the co-authors of the book, Anatomy of a Patent Case (2009; 2012 2nd ed., 2016 3rd ed.), prepared by the Complex Litigation Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers and published in conjunction with the Federal Judicial Center (FJC). Notably, the book has been distributed to all judges of the federal judicial branch.
At the invitation of the FJC, George has presented programs on patent law issues at more than 50 FJC National Workshops for federal district and magistrate judges. In 2016, he was a contributing author to the Patent Case Management Judicial Guide (2016; 3rd ed.). In 2001, he was appointed by Chief Justice Rehnquist of the U.S. Supreme Court to serve as a member of the District Judge Education Advisory Committee for the FJC, and was reappointed by Chief Justice Rehnquist in 2004, serving until 2007.
Representation of Omeros in ANDA cases in the District of Delaware concerning the Omidria® product, a combination drug product used in cataract surgery. Omeros Corporation v. Par Sterile Products, LLC et al. (DED).
Representation of Eli Lilly and Company, Imclone LLC, and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company in patent litigation in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania related to Erbitux®, a monoclonal antibody used in the treatment of various cancers. The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania v. Eli Lilly and Company et al. (E.D. Pa.).
Representation of Merck & Co., Inc. and Roche Palo Alto LLC in patent litigation in the District of New Jersey against Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. relating to Ganirelix Acetate Injection, which is one of the drugs used in women undergoing in vitro fertilization. Merck & Co., Inc. et al v. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. et al. (D.N.J.).
Representation of UCB in Hatch-Waxman litigation filed against 16 generic companies in the District of Delaware involving UCB’s Vimpat® product, used in the treatment of epilepsy and other CNS disorders. UCB, Inc. v. Accord Healthcare, Inc., 201 F. Supp. 3d 491 (D. Del. 2016), aff'd, 890 F.3d 1313 (Fed. Cir. 2018).
Representation of AstraZeneca in Hatch-Waxman patent litigation against Barr and Mylan concerning Entocort® EC, used for the treatment of Crohn’s disease. AstraZeneca LP v. Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (D. Del.).
Representation of Bristol-Myers Squibb in patent litigation in the District of New Jersey against Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories relating to IXEMPRA® Kit, an intravenous infusion treatment for metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer after failure of at least an anthracycline and a taxane. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company v. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., et al. (D.N.J.).
Representation of Merck before the International Trade Commission, as well as parallel district court litigation. Due to our efforts, the Complainant/Plaintiff dismissed its complaint in the ITC, as well as in the Eastern District of Virginia. In re Certain Vaginal Ring Birth Control Devices (USITC) and Femina Pharma Inc. v. Merck & Co., Inc., et al. (E.D. Va.).
Representation of Auxilium Pharmaceuticals in a Hatch-Waxman case involving transdermal testosterone gel for treatment of male hypogonadism. Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Cpex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. (D. Del.).
Representation of GlaxoSmithKline in patent litigation brought by Classen Immunotherapies involving immunization methods and schedules. Classen Immunotherapies, Inc. v. Biogen IDEC, et al. (D. Md.).
Representation of Ortho-McNeil in:
the District of New Jersey in an ANDA case brought against Lupin involving Ortho Tri-Cyclen® Lo. Following a bench trial, the judge ruled in favor of our client, declaring the patent valid, blocking Lupin’s effort to market a generic competitor. Janssen Pharms Inc. v. Lupin Pharms , Inc. et al. (D.N.J.);
the District of New Jersey in an ANDA case brought against Barr relating to a patent covering Ortho Tri-Cyclen ® Lo, an oral contraceptive. Trial was adjourned when settlement discussions began the first day of trial. When settlement did not materialize, we moved for a preliminary injunction and a recall of the infringing product, which had already been sent to distributors and pharmacies, and it was granted. We subsequently obtained a highly favorable settlement for our client. Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. v. Barr Laboratories, Inc. (D.N.J. 2009); and
the Northern District of West Virginia and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in an ANDA case brought by Mylan Laboratories relating to a patent covering Levaquin®, an antibiotic. Ortho-McNeil prevailed in the district court, and the decision was affirmed per curium by the Federal Circuit. Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Mylan Laboratories, Inc. (N.D.W. Va.).
Representation of Sanofi in Hatch-Waxman litigations against Accord Healthcare, Sandoz, and Sun Pharmaceuticals concerning Sanofi's Taxotere® cancer treatment. sanofi-aventis v. Accord Healthcare, sanofi-aventis v. Sandoz, sanofi-aventis v. Sun Pharmaceuticals (D. Del.).
Representation of Shire in the District of Massachusetts, the District of New Jersey and the Southern District of Florida in an ANDA case brought against Abhai, Andrx and Watson concerning Shire’s ADDERALL XR® product for the treatment of ADHD. Shire LLC et al. v. Abhai LLC (MAD), Shire Laboratories Inc. v. Andrx Pharmaceutical, LLC et al. (D.N.J.) and Shire Laboratories Inc. v. Andrx Pharmaceutical, LLC et al. (S.D. Fla.).
Medical Device and Other Life Sciences
Representation of Becton-Dickinson and Company in a patent infringement action brought by New York University relating to Bard-Parker Protected Blade Systems.
Representation of Ethicon in:
a patent infringement action brought by Arthrocare in the Northern District of California relating to electrosurgical devices used for arthroscopic and gynecological applications. Arthrocare v. Ethicon, Inc. (N.D. Cal.); and
a patent infringement action brought by Cryogen in the Northern District of California relating to a cryosurgical device used in gynecological applications. Cryogen, Inc v. Johnson & Johnson, et al. (N.D. Cal.).
Representation of BioWhittaker in a patent infringement action against Pharmacia in the Eastern District of Virginia relating to fluorometric enzyme immunoassay testing methods for allergen specific IgE. BioWhittaker, Inc. v. Pharmacia (E.D. Va.).
Representation of Mitek Surgical Products in patent infringement suit concerning Mitek’s patents covering suture anchor, used in orthopedic surgery to reattach torn or damaged ligaments, tendons, muscles and other soft tissues to bone. Mitek Surgical Products, Inc. v. Arthrex, Inc. (D. Utah).
Representation of The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory ("JHU/APL") in litigation alleging breach of contract and infringement of JHU/APL’s patents covering electronic pacemakers. The Johns Hopkins University v. Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. (D. Md.).
Representation of AutoTrader.com in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in a patent infringement action brought by GraphOn Corp. relating to the storage of information in a database and the publication of information on a computer network such as the World Wide Web. GraphOn Corp. v. autotrader.com, LLC, et al. (E.D. Tex.).
Representation of eBay and PayPal in a patent infringement action brought by TecSec involving patents relating to encryption and cryptography technologies. TecSec, Inc. v. International Business Machines Corporation et al. (E.D. Va.).
Representation of Manheim Auctions Inc. in the Northern District of Georgia in a patent infringement case brought by Auction Management Solutions, Inc. relating to a patent covering integration of live and remote bidders at an auction site. Auction Management Solutions, Inc. v. Manheim Auctions Inc, et al. (N.D. Ga.).
Representation of Microsoft:
in a patent infringement action brought by MedioStream involving patents relating to video conversion technology asserted against Microsoft's Movie Maker product. MedioStream, Inc. v. Microsoft (E.D. Tex.);
as a third-party defendant in this patent infringement suit, prevailed on summary judgment, obtaining the dismissal of Intergraph's breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentation, and tortuous interference with business relations claims. Hewlett-Packard Co. v. Intergraph Corp. (N.D. Cal.);
in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in a patent infringement action brought by Peter Sklar relating to cluster user interfaces in Windows XP software. Sklar v. Microsoft Corporation (E.D. Tex.).
Representation of AOL in three related patent infringement cases where the plaintiff asserted four patents against AOL’s targeted web advertising technology. Augme Technologies, Inc. v. Gannett Co., Inc. et al. (S.D.N.Y.); Augme Technologies, Inc. v. AOL Inc. et al (S.D.N.Y.); and Augme Technologies, Inc. v. Tacoda, Inc. (S.D.N.Y.).
Representation of Sprint Nextel in a patent infringement case involving patents that claim systems and methods relating to the creation and use of playlists on programmable processor devices. Premier International Associates, LLC. v. Microsoft Corp. et al. (E.D. Tex.).
Patent Infringement Litigation/Other
Representation of Interstar Materials in a patent infringement case relating to a patent covering methods for dyeing concrete. Rockwood Pigments, NA, Inc. v. Interstar Materials, Inc. (N.D. Ill.).
Representation of Kanzaki Kokyukoki Manufacturing Co., a Japanese manufacturer, in defense of patent infringement allegations related to hydrostatic transaxles, installed in lawn tractors sold by an equipment manufacturer. Sauer, Inc. v. Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co. (S.D. Iowa).
Representation of LG Electronics (LGE) in a patent infringement action brought by Cellular Transitions LLC involving patents related to handoffs between licensed spectrum (e.g., LTE) and unlicensed spectrum (e.g., Wi-Fi) on various LGE smartphones and consumer electronics devices.
Representation of PACCAR in a patent infringement case relating to a patent covering technology for reducing aerodynamic drag on tractor-trailers. Buckley v. Paccar Inc, et al. (D. Md.).
Representation Samsung Electronics America in patent infringements relating to brightness controls used in mobile phones and televisions.
Representation of Tuff Torq in patent infringement action relating to integrated hydrostatic transaxles, used in light lawn mowers. Tuff Torq Corp. v. Hydro-Gear LP (D. Del.).
Trade Secret Litigation
Representation of Intercos S.P.A. in litigation in which we are asserting trade secret misappropriation claims related to cosmetics manufacturing technology. This is a complex multi-jurisdictional case involving international fact patterns. Intercos is the world leader in color cosmetics manufacturing and innovation.
International Trade Law Journal, Founding Editor-in-Chief
University of Maryland, B.A.
highest honors
Phi Beta Kappa
Bar Admissions
District of Columbia
Maryland
Accolades
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
Chairman, Complex Litigation Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers
Listed in Chambers USA (2006-2025) as a leading attorney in the area of Intellectual Property.
Listed in Chambers Global as a leading attorney in the area of Intellectual Property (2007-2025) and Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation (2021-2025).
Lawdragon, "Leading Litigators in America" (2024)
Listed as one of The Best Lawyers in America in Litigation - Patent (2011-2022); Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, and Intellectual Property Law (2006-2022)
Top 10 Lawyers in DC - Washington DC Super Lawyers (2018)
Top 100 - Washington DC Super Lawyers (2013-2018)
WIPR Leaders, Patent (2017)
Super Lawyers - Washington DC, Intellectual Property Litigation (2007-2024)
IAM Patent 1000 - The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners (2015-2019)
Who's Who Legal, Litigation (2017-2019); Patents (2013-2019); Life Sciences - Patent Litigation (2018-2020)
Consultative Group, Intellectual Property: Principles Governing Jurisdiction, Choice of Law, and Judgments in Transnational Disputes for The American Law Institute, Member
Appointed by Chief Judge Garrett E. Brown, Jr. to serve as a Member of the District of New Jersey Local Patent Rules Committee
Appointed by Chief Justice Rehnquist of the U.S. Supreme Court to serve as a Member of the District Judge Education Advisory Committee for the Federal Judicial Center (2001, 2004-2007)
U.S. District Court of Delaware Judges’ Intellectual Property Advisory Committee, 1998, 2001, 2003-Present (invited by active Federal Judges of the Court), Member
U.S. District Court of Delaware Electronic Discovery Committee, Member (2003-2006)
ALI-ABA Advisory Group on Intellectual Property, Member (2004-Present)
Maryland Statewide Business/Technology Case Management Advisory Committee, Member (2004-Present)
Chairman, Governor’s Commission on Development of Advanced Technology Business ("Pappas Commission") (2002 - 2004)
Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland School of Law, Member (2000-Present)
University of Maryland School of Law IP Program Advisory Board, Member, (2002-Present)
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