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Schmidt, Patrick

Patrick T. Schmidt

Partner

patrickschmidt@quinnemanuel.com
Direct Tel: +1 213-443-3191, Direct Fax: +1 213-443-3100
Los Angeles
Tel: +1 213 443 3000 Fax: +1 213 443 3100

Patrick is a seasoned trial attorney who represents both Plaintiffs and Defendants in high-stakes commercial litigation and intellectual property disputes, including patent infringement and trade secret matters.  While Patrick has litigated cases involving a broad range of technologies, his prior experience as an engineer and Air Force officer makes him particularly well-suited to disputes in the aerospace field.  He has represented clients in cases involving satellite communications, helicopter avionics, rocket propulsion systems, and electric vertical takeoff and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft.

Patrick earned his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law with High Honors, and clerked for Honorable James B. Loken of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.  He was recently recognized by Lawdragon for Global IP Litigation. 

Prior to law school, Patrick served as an officer in the United States Air Force, working as an engineer in support of the Air Force’s air-to-air Weapon System Evaluation Program and the Space and Missile Systems Center. 

  • GoPro
  • Virgin Galactic
  • Virgin Orbit
  • Qualcomm
  • ViaSat
  • BlackBerry
  • Google
  • YouTube
  • Waymo
  • Samsung
  • Vicor
  • Home Depot
  • Representing GoPro against competitor Insta360 in patent-infringement litigation before the International Trade Commission and Central District of California.  Case involves patents covering image processing and electronic image stabilization technology.   
  • Served as co-lead counsel for Rogerson Kratos and Rogerson Aircraft Corporation against Bell Helicopter in case asserting breach of contract, unfair competition, and trade secret misappropriation in Texas state court.  Case involved issues concerning the development and certification of complex helicopter avionics systems.  After a six-week jury trial, obtained a verdict awarding $16 million for Bell’s breach its confidentiality obligations and unfair competition.  (https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/texas/articles/2024-10-31/jury-orders-bell-helicopter-to-pay-16-million-to-former-supplier-in-a-trade-secrets-case)   
  • Represented Wisk Aero, a joint venture of Boeing and Kitty Hawk, in a trade secret misappropriation and patent infringement case against Archer Aviation, related to electric vertical takeoff and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft.  Obtained settlement of case immediately prior to trial.  (https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/boeing-gets-a-good-deal-from-archer-air-taxi-settlement-with-wisk/)
  • Defended aerospace fastener manufacturer in a trade secrets case related to specialized aircraft fastener technology.  Obtained denial of plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunction and favorable settlement.
  • Represented Qualcomm in patent-infringement litigation against Apple before the International Trade Commission and the Southern District of California relating to inter-processor communication and graphics processing.  Obtained a complete jury verdict on behalf of Qualcomm finding that Apple infringed all three asserted patents and awarding all damages sought. 
  • Represented plaintiff Waymo against Uber in a trade secret misappropriation case relating to autonomous vehicle technology. Obtained a preliminary injunction and other provisional relief on behalf of Waymo against Uber.  The case settled on the fifth day of trial pursuant to a confidential settlement agreement.
  • Represented Virgin Galactic in AAA arbitration and related California state court litigation asserting trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty against a former executive and his newly formed company.  Obtained terminating sanctions in the arbitration and a permanent injunction from the Los Angeles Superior Court.
  • Defended Google and YouTube in a patent-infringement case in the Eastern District of Texas involving push messaging technologies.  Following a one-week jury trial, obtained a jury verdict of non-infringement.
  • Represented plaintiff ViaSat against Space Systems/Loral in a complex patent infringement and breach of contract case in the Southern District of California involving high-speed satellite technology.  After a three-week jury trial, obtained a jury verdict of $283 million for ViaSat –  the largest jury verdict in California for 2014.  (https://spacenews.com/40336viasat-wins-283-million-judgment-in-patent-infringement-case-against/)
  • Represented Samsung against smartphone rival Apple in federal district court over patents relating to cellular and touchscreen technology.
  • University of Texas School of Law
    (J.D., with High Honors, 2010)
    • Order of the Coif
    • Texas Law Review:
      • Articles Editor
  • Auburn University
    (M.B.A., 2006)
  • United States Military Academy, West Point
    (B.S., Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Distinguished Cadet, 2002)
  • The State Bar of California
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • United States District Court:
    • Central District of California
    • Northern District of California
    • Southern District of California
    • District of Colorado
  • Law Clerk to the Hon. James B. Loken:
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 2010-2011
  • United States Air Force:
    • Captain, 2002-2007
  • Recognized by Lawdragon 500 Leading Global IP Lawyers: IP, Litigation, Patent, ITC, 2025