Dr. Chad Ray
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Dr. Chad Ray

My scientific background, natural curiosity, and love of learning enable me to quickly figure out how things work. In litigation, I position my clients well because I understand technology better than opposing counsel and can explain the concepts and products in clear, straightforward terms.

Patent litigation trial attorney Chad Ray concentrates on defending technologies in a wide range of areas, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biologics, electronics, chemicals, and automotive components/coatings. Applying a unique background that bridges chemistry and law, he advocates for clients in a variety of matters in both bench and jury trials, as well as in proceedings before the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeals Board. Chad’s national practice stretches from California to Delaware.

The breadth and depth of Chad’s technical expertise, combined with a creativity in approaching legal problems, help ensure that his clients are able to launch their product, protect it on the market, and keep it safe from competitors who would assert their own IP rights. He routinely finds ways to win even the most challenging of cases while maintaining a professional and cordial relationship with opposing counsel. Although Chad fights hard for his clients’ interests, he always upholds professional standards and a spirit of congeniality.

Chad’s belief that lawyers have a duty to help people in their communities and an innate sense of fairness drive his passion to pursue and obtain justice for all types of people and organizations, from indigents falsely accused of crimes to large corporations plagued by troll patent litigation. He has provided pro bono criminal defense representation, with notable successes helping individuals charged with serious felonies, including first-degree murder and armed robbery.

Prior to attending law school, Chad earned an undergraduate degree in chemistry and a Ph.D. for physical chemistry research, developing and applying nanotechnology methods for the study of complex biological molecule interactions. During his academic career, he earned numerous accolades and awards for his research, teaching, and community service.

Chad draws on his teaching experience to “read” juries, gauge whether his audience understands the information, and then adjust his communication methods if necessary. As someone who has lived in many types of areas, from his rural hometown to a big city and places in between, Chad brings deep insight into jury pools and an ability to craft arguments using language that appeals to the priorities and values that bridge different groups of people.

Significant Matters

  • Obtained a dismissal for an international technology company on section 101 grounds of a patent infringement action brought by a non-practicing entity (NPE) in the Eastern District of Texas.
  • Represented an international automobile manufacturer in a patent infringement action brought by a non-practicing entity (NPE) in the Western District of Texas, negotiated a third-party payment to favorably settle the lawsuit.
  • Represented an international pharmaceutical company in patent infringement bench trial against generic drug manufacturer in the District of Delaware, winning findings of infringement and patent validity.
  • Represented an international pharmaceutical company in patent infringement bench trial against branded drug manufacturer in the District of Delaware, winning a finding of non-infringement.
  • Obtained recommendation for dismissal with prejudice for failure to state a claim in biologic drug patent infringement lawsuit in Delaware.
  • Obtained a dismissal with prejudice under Rule 11 for failure to state a claim of patent infringement in an action brought by a non-practicing entity (NPE) in the District of Delaware.
  • Obtained a dismissal with prejudice on section 101 grounds of a patent infringement action brought by a non-practicing entity (NPE) in the Central District of California.
  • Represented an international electronics company in patent infringement jury trial against rival manufacturer in the District of Nevada.
  • Represented an international pharmaceutical company in patent infringement against generic drug manufacturers in the Northern District of Illinois.
  • Represented an international pharmaceutical company in licensing dispute against the licensor and a separate licensee.
  • Prosecuted trademark applications for non-profit education services provider in Chicago.
  • Obtained dismissal of a patent infringement action for failure to join the patent owner in a lawsuit brought by a non-practicing entity (NPE) in the Central District of California, and obtained an affirmance from the Federal Circuit on appeal of same.
  • Obtained findings of invalidity from the Patent Trials and Appeals Board on petitions for inter partes review for multiple clients.
  • Obtained findings of no new issue of patentability, resulting in denial of institution of inter partes review petitions from the Patent Trials and Appeals Board for multiple clients.

Areas of Focus

Education

Education

  • University of Michigan Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2011)
    • The Michigan Telecommunications and Technology Law Review, Submissions Editor
    • Intellectual Property Student Association (IPSA)
  • Duke University (Ph.D., Chemistry, 2007)
    • Zielek/Adams/Hobbs, Joe Taylor Adams, and Paul M. Gross Research Awards
    • Pelham Wilder, Jr. Teaching Award
    • William E. Daye Community Service Award
    • American Chemical Society – National Physical Chemistry Presentation Award
  • University of New Mexico (B.S., Chemistry, magna cum laude, 2002)
    • Phi Beta Kappa
    • Presidential Scholar
    • Chemistry Senior Award
    • NSF-REU Fellow

Admissions

Bar Admissions
  • Texas, 2011
  • Illinois, 2017
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 2011
Court Admissions
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District, Illinois, 2011
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District, Texas, 2020
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District, Texas, 2018
  • U.S. District Court, Western District, Texas, 2020
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit, 2014

Leadership

  • American Bar Association
  • Dallas Bar Association
  • American Chemical Society
  • Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago

Recognition

  • Lawdragon 500, Leading Litigators in America, Intellectual Property, 2023-2024
  • Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch, 2021- 2024, Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation

Best-Lawyers-Logo (1)

Speeches/Publications

  • Conversations on Actual Innocence and the Michigan Innocence Clinic; Criminal Law Society, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, November 15, 2019
  • Biosimilars Boot Camp for the Paragraph IV Litigator, American Conference Institute’s 4th Annual Paragraph IV Disputes Master Symposium, September 2016
  • Recent Appellate Cases and Developments in Patent Law and Litigation, Practicing Law Institute, November 2015
  • Separate Powers, Singular Purpose: How Congress, the Executive, and the Courts are Revolutionizing Pharmaceutical Patent Litigation; 249th ACS National Meeting, Spring 2015
  • Teva Pharmaceuticals v. Sandoz: Availability Generic Glatiramer Acetate and The Impact to Patent Litigation Claim Destruction, Expert Opin. Ther. Pat., January 2014
  • Divide and Rule, Intellectual Property, December 2012-January 2013
  • Anatomy of an Innocence Case, Wayne State University, October 2009

Outside of Work

Chad loves winter sports such as skiing and ice climbing. He finds that he “recharges” best in the mountains, and his ambition is to climb most of the world’s biggest peaks. Chad and his wife spend a lot of time in Colorado climbing “fourteeners,” which stretch 14,000 feet or more above sea level. He used his skills as a negotiator to convince her to climb Kilimanjaro with him in 2019. His next big mountain goal is to scale Denali.