Li Chen is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Chen Malin LLP. Chambers USA of Chambers and Partners has recognized Li as a leading intellectual property lawyer in Texas since 2009, and its 2013 edition notes “Li Chen is a widely respected lead litigator and trial lawyer with strategic vision.” Best Lawyers in America by Woodward White, Inc, which included Li in its 2012-2016 editions in the area of Litigation—Intellectual Property and its 2015 edition in Litigation—Patent, quotes clients as saying “Mr. Chen is one of the most effective and efficient counsel I have ever worked with” and that he has a “great understanding of business operation(s).” Others have observed that Li "coalesces ... technical knowledge ... legal acumen ... and negotiation skills to provide ... exceptional legal advice in a 'user-friendly' manner," and that he has a "great understanding of business operation[s]."

Li is listed as a local litigation star (Texas) by Benchmark Litigation (2015-2016), as an “IP Star: (US & Texas) by Managing IP (2014), and in The Legal 500 (2014). He is recognized by D Magazine in its edition of Best Lawyers in Dallas—Intellectual Property Law (2014), ranked among Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters service) magazine’s Top 100 lawyers in Texas from 2013 to present, as well as by Martindale-Hubbell (for complex commercial litigation, IP litigation, and technology transactions). The latter gave Li the ranking of “AV Preeminent”—what Martindale deems a significant accomplishment and a “testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.” Li is a member of the Panel of Practicing Contributors in the 8th Edition of Black’s Law Dictionary and the Northern District of Texas Patent Local Rules Task Force. Prior to founding CHEN MALIN LLP Li was the Dallas Office IP Litigation Group Head of an international law firm.

Li’s practice encompasses intellectual property litigation, complex commercial litigation and technology transactions/licensing. He has served as lead / co-lead counsel in dozens of cases, involving patent disputes and claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, shareholder oppression, and breach of contract. His patent cases in years past include forums such as the International Trade Commission in D.C. and district courts in California, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Texas, and Utah. Having lived in Taiwan for nearly a decade, Li also draws on this background to advise clients, in both English and Chinese, on how they may overcome cultural, language and legal barriers to find sensible business solutions. Li has successfully led numerous technology transaction and patent licensing negotiations, including multiple trans-national ERP implementations and negotiations against NPEs such as Round Rock Research LLC.

Li has served as lead/co-lead counsel in dozens of cases, in matters ranging from patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation disputes to claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, shareholder oppression and breach of contract. He has litigated disputes before the International Trade Commission in D.C. and district courts in California, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Texas and Utah. Having lived in Taiwan for nearly a decade, Li also harnesses this background and his knowledge of intellectual property and litigation to advise clients, in both Chinese and English, on how they may overcome cultural, language and legal barriers to find creative and sensible business solutions.

Representative Matters:

Patent Litigation

Co-Lead trial counsel for Tellabs in Fujitsu Ltd. v. Tellabs Operations, Inc., Civil Action No. 1:09-cv-04530 (N.D. Ill.). The case probed whether Fujitsu’s patent is encumbered by RAND obligations; whether Fujitsu breached its RAND obligation; and, if so, whether that breach reflected a willful and intentional attempt to injure Tellabs. Eleven (11) separate questions were submitted to the jury, including one submitted under the clear and convincing standard. After a brief deliberation an 8-member jury returned a verdict in Tellabs’ favor on all 11 questions. Based on the jury’s findings the court issued a show cause order to determine why Fujitsu’s patent should not be held unenforceable as to Tellabs. As the presiding judge observed, the question of whether a RAND breach can lead to an unenforceability finding is an issue of first impression.
Lead trial counsel for Respondent Realtek Semiconductor in Inv. No. 749(c). Li’s trial examination of the opposing expert persuaded the International Trade Commission that Realtek did not infringe the asserted patent and that the contrary position urged by the opposing party led to “absurd” results.

Commercial Litigation

Co-Lead trial counsel for Plaintiffs Bo Strathmeyer and Alentown International in a breach of fiduciary duty, shareholder oppression, and breach of contract suit brought against a majority shareholder. After observing our lawyers present their case on the first day of trial, defendant agreed to settle the case by paying a 150% premium to an offer he rejected just two (2) weeks earlier.

IT Transctions / Patent Licensing

Lead counsel for a metals industry client in a global enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation transaction. The concessions that Li secured from the ERP implementer—one of the top 50 technology companies in the world—prompted the implementer to subsequently seek Li’s advice on licensing negotiation strategies.