Biography
Michael Reeder is a trial attorney and patent litigator, representing clients in all phases of litigation in both federal and state courts across the country.
Michael, as an electrical engineer, focuses his patent litigation practice on high-tech industries, including telecom and consumer electronic spaces involving electronics, software, and microprocessor systems and architectures. In addition to representing high-tech clients, Michael counsels clients across a broad array of industries such as energy and life sciences. He has represented all types of companies ranging from start-up GPS navigation companies in Silicon Valley, dairy breeders in Iowa, telecommunications companies in Washington and New York, and energy companies in Houston. No matter the industry, Michael uses his engineering background to breakdown problems, understand his clients’ technology and related business goals, and develop tailored strategies to achieve those objectives. He has extensive experience litigating patent disputes in the Eastern and Southern Districts of Texas.
In addition to his patent litigation practice, Michael manages an varied commercial litigation practice, representing companies in Harris County and throughout Texas, as well as in jurisdictions such as Delaware, New York, Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. He recognizes that his clients’ goals can often be best achieved through agreements without court intervention and is known for his composed demeanor and negotiation skills.
Prior to joining Blank Rome, Michael spent more than a decade at an international law firm and then founded a successful litigation boutique, where he continued to cultivate a culture of excellence in serving clients of all types, from Fortune 100 companies, start-up businesses, individuals, and pro bono clients. Michael was recognized by the Asian Law Caucus for his work representing an immigrant from Sri Lanka who sought asylum in the United States because of life-threatening torture from guerrilla organizations and the Sri Lankan government.
Michael has handled disputes in a wide array of industries and technologies, including:
Energy
- Oilfield services
- Environmental containment
- Link tilt systems
- Drilling pipe and connections
- Downhole sensors
Telecommunications and Communications
- 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, 5G telecommunications standards
- Handover technology
- Backend network server, router, switch, and gateway technologies
- UCaaS and VoIP systems
- Content management systems
- Video and audio compression
- Network security and firewall technologies
Electronics
- Wi-Fi technology, functionality, and standards
- GPS technology
- Chip set and baseband functionality
- Microprocessor architecture
- Television broadcast and cable display technology
- Wireless routing and authentication
- Mobile phone functionality
Life Sciences
- Genetics
Experience
Over the years, Michael has built a reputation as a principled and dedicated litigator on behalf of his clients.
Listed below is a representative sample of Michael’s engagements, which range from business disputes to a wide variety of intellectual property matters:
Patent Litigation
- Secured a complete victory as lead counsel for a leading environmental containment company where the competitor agreed to stop selling its products.
- Successfully represented a world leader in the field of bovine genetics in a high-stakes case against a new competitor involving claims of breach of contract, fraud, and misappropriation of trade secrets in several parallel litigations and arbitrations.
- Secured a complete victory for a global client as the plaintiff in a patent case involving electrical cables where the competitor settled and agreed to stop importing its product.
- Successfully represented a GPS navigation company in multiple patent infringement cases relating to traffic information, routing, and dispatch controls.
- Won summary judgement for one of the world’s largest wireless carriers in the first serious challenge to the company’s use of LTE technology.
- Won a post-trial summary judgment of invalidity for an oilfield services client against patent infringement claims by a competitor regarding oilfield tools technology.
Commercial Litigation
- Lead counsel in successful litigation for steel broker in breach of contract action involving delayed shipments during Covid-19 shutdowns.
- Successfully litigated as lead counsel quiet title and breach of contract action for business owner in strip center on disputed easement and right of way provisions.
- Obtained summary judgment as lead counsel for genetics company whose customer utilized genetic materials without authorization and payment.
- Successfully negotiated resolution to a breach of contract action where both parties were able to resume business operations under revised contractual agreement.
Pro Bono Lead Counsel Representations Include:
- Secured grant of asylum for mother and son from El Salvador after successful appeal to Fifth Circuit.
- As lead trial counsel, achieved an acquittal jury verdict for a client in a misdemeanor criminal trial.
- Secured a grant of asylum and citizenship for a Nigerian client on claims of LGBTQ discrimination.
- Won an asylum case in immigration court for an Eritrean client on claims of religious persecution.
Recognitions
- 2023–2024, Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© (Woodward/White, Inc.),
- 2021–2025, Texas “Super Lawyer” in Intellectual Property Litigation, listed in Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters)
- 2022, “Top 500 Leading Litigators in America,” listed in Lawdragon
- 2022, President’s Award, by the Houston Bar Association
- 2016–2019, Texas “Rising Stars,” listed in Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters)
- 2010, Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for Pro Bono Practice
Affiliations
Memberships
- Houston Bar Association
- Texas Bar Foundation
- The Honorable Nancy F. Atlas Intellectual Property Inn of Court
- AVOW
- Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast
Michael is a member of Houston Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee, a Texas Bar Foundation Fellow, Director of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Board President of AVOW, and a member of the Nancy Atlas Houston IP Inn of Court.
Credentials
Admissions
- U.S. District Court - Northern District of Texas
- Texas
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court - Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Texas
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Education
- University of Texas School of Law, JD, with honors
- University of Texas at Austin, BS
