Attorney Bio

“We have a scorecard. We know when we win and lose, and our team enjoys winning an awful lot. As a result, our clients’ problems are our problems. They spend the day with us. They go home with us at night. At times, they accompany us through the night while the adversary sleeps, until we have a solution and a way to win the struggle, resolve the dispute, and help our clients get back to their real business.”

— Fred I. Williams

Fred I. Williams is a trial lawyer who guides clients through high-stakes, complex litigation. He has spent the last 30 years representing industry-leading companies in cases involving patent, trade secret, competition, trade regulation, and consumer-protection claims. He also has substantial experience in antitrust, class action, and white-collar disputes. Fred has represented the world’s leading computer, telecommunications, networking, financial, and healthcare companies in their most significant technology disputes. Before founding WSL, he led the global IP practices at the Akin Gump and Vinson & Elkins firms.

Fred prepares and tries cases to judges and juries across the country, including proceedings in 30 different states and the District of Columbia, and works on international disputes in Asia and Europe. Whether working for clients in telecommunications, computer hardware and software, consumer electronics, e-commerce, publishing, retail, or health sciences, he thrives on succeeding when the stakes are high.

Fred is also passionate about using the resources available to him to help people who are unable to protect themselves, maintaining an active pro bono practice focused on civil rights and consumer protection litigation.

Education & Bar Admissions

Education

  • Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 1995
    Glenn Larson Farr Scholar; Brigham Young University Law Review, Articles Solicitor; Order of the Coif
  • Brigham Young University, B.A. Economics, 1992

Admitted to Practice

  • Texas
  • United States District Court - Eastern District of Texas
  • United States District Court - Western District of Texas
  • United States District Court - Northern District of Texas
  • United States District Court - Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court – District of Colorado
  • United States Court of Appeals - Federal Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals - 5th Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals – 3rd Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals - 11th Circuit
  • United States Supreme Court

Recognition

  • Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2014−2024
  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers In America® (IP Litigation and Patent Litigation), 2022-2025
  • Legal 500 U.S., Venture Capital and Emerging Companies, 2017
  • IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals, Patent Litigation (Texas), 2015−2017
  • Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2006-2009

Activities

  • Founding Life Fellow: Austin Bar Foundation
  • Sustaining Life Fellow: Texas Bar Foundation
  • Board Member: Camp Kesem National
  • Golden Chief: Seminole Boosters, Inc.
  • Past Chair: J. Reuben Clark Law Society – Austin Chapter (2007-2009)
  • Past Vice President: Austin Seminole Club (2001-2012)

Litigation Services

Experience Highlights

  • Won a unanimous $115 million jury verdict against the world’s largest company in a trade secret case over misappropriation of a computer and telecommunications system for reducing the worldwide problem of fresh food waste; remitted to $110 million shortly after trial; new trial ordered Dec. 2023 (E.D. Ark., 8th Cir.)

  • Lead counsel to a technology company prosecuting cases against the world’s largest smartphone manufacturers for the use of multiple cameras to perform smartphone security and convenience functions (Fed. Cir., E.D. Tex., N.D. Cal., N.D. Ill., D.N.J.)

  • Defended 21 of the world’s largest telecommunications companies (six handset manufacturers and 15 wireless carriers) in litigating the invention of many fundamental aspects of smartphone technology; won partial summary judgment of indefiniteness and invalidated all asserted claims in inter partes re-examinations (E.D. Tex.)

  • Lead counsel to operating companies prosecuting multiple cases related to VOIP technology against the world’s leading technology, financial, and retail companies (Fed. Cir., E.D. Tex., W.D. Tex., S.D. Tex., N.D. Tex., M.D. Fla., N.D. Cal.)

  • Obtained a jury verdict of noninfringement for a social media company in a case involving online gaming systems and the provision of data to game participants during the gaming experience (E.D. Tex.)

  • Obtained a jury verdict of noninfringement for a smartphone manufacturer in patent litigation involving universal remote-control technology (E.D. Tex.)

  • Obtained a jury verdict of noninfringement in favor of four leading wireless carrier defendants in patent litigation involving universal remote-control technology; affirmed on appeal (Fed. Cir., E.D. Tex.)

  • Won summary determination of invalidity for a wireless handset manufacturer in investigation regarding media player technology; obtained summary determination of invalidity based on lack of patentability; affirmed on appeal (ITC)

  • Won final determination of no violation for a major home-automation company in investigation regarding smart thermostat technology (ITC)

  • Lead counsel for the world’s largest PC manufacturer in ITC investigations regarding audio, video, and computer hardware and software technologies (ITC)

  • Lead counsel to operating company prosecuting multiple cases related to tagging and self-navigation, interactive video technology against video content providers (E.D. Tex., W.D. Tex., D. Del.)

  • Defended the world’s leading data networking company against competitors’ claims of trade secret misappropriation, patent infringement, copyright infringement, employee raiding, and breach of contract (D. Mass., E.D. Tex.)

  • Represented the world’s largest personal computer maker in patent litigation related to its software products; obtained summary judgment invalidating both asserted patents as unpatentable; affirmed on appeal (Fed. Cir., D. Or.)

  • Defended several major gaming companies in a patent infringement lawsuit related to peer-to-peer network technologies; obtained summary judgment of non-infringement after successful claim construction proceedings; affirmed on appeal (Fed. Cir., D. Del.)

  • Defended a major wireless manufacturer and its largest wireless carrier in six cases relating to 4G LTE wireless technologies; won summary judgment of noninfringement in all cases (N.D. Cal.)

  • Defended a leading wireless manufacturer against infringement claims based on data transfer and voice calls on Wi-Fi networks; won summary judgment of noninfringement; affirmed on appeal (Fed. Cir., N.D. Cal.)

     

Patent Litigation

  • Defended a Fortune 50 financial institution against infringement claims related to front-end network gateways and search criteria for efficient provision of financial quotes; the court granted our client’s motion to dismiss based on lack of patentability of the alleged invention (D. Del.)
  • Defending the world’s leading supplier of personal computers in ITC Section 337 investigations regarding audio, video, and computer hardware and software technologies (ITC, Fed. Cir.)
  • Defended the world’s leading PC provider against infringement claims relating to communicating voice and data over a cellular network; succeeded in instituting inter partes review of all asserted claims; after we obtained a favorable claim construction, the plaintiffs stipulated to non-infringement; in exchange for withdrawing the instituted petitions for inter partes review, plaintiffs agreed to waive their appeal rights, broadly licensed the patents at no cost to our client, and dismissed all claims with prejudice (D. Del., PTAB)
  • Representing the world’s largest personal computer company in dozens of cases involving WiFi, WiMax, 3G, 4G and Bluetooth® wireless technologies (E.D. Tex., W.D. Tex., D. Del., N.D. Cal., C.D. Cal., S.D. Cal., E.D. Va.)
  • Defending the world’s largest television manufacturer in litigation regarding heat sink technology; won summary judgment of noninfringement (E.D. Tex.)
  • Defending a major telecommunications carrier in patent litigation relating to Internet access technology; case ended with summary judgment of noninfringement (E.D. Tex.)
  • Defending the world’s leading personal computer company in multiple cases relating to the invention of the touchscreen computer; won summary judgment of noninfringement in the lead case (E.D. Tex., C.D. Cal, E.D.N.C.)
  • Defending an industry-leading group of six gaming companies against claims relating to electronic trading card technology (E.D. Tex.)
  • Defending personal computer company against infringement claims relating to server and security technology (S.D. Fla., E.D. Tex., E.D.N.C.)
  • Defending an international manufacturer of medical devices against infringement claims relating to angioplasty catheters; successfully defended motion for preliminary injunction, after which the case was resolved by acquisition of the plaintiff (W.D. Tex.)
  • Defending a major medical device manufacturer against claims of patent infringement, correction of inventorship, trade secret misappropriation, fraud, breach of contract and deceptive trade practices; prosecuted counterclaims for breach of contract, tortious interference and misappropriation of trade secrets (W.D. Tenn.)
  • Prosecuting an offensive patent infringement case against an offshore personal computer manufacturer relating to personal computer power management and start-up technologies (N.D. Cal.)

Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection Litigation

  • Defending national financial institutions in jury and bench trials throughout Texas
  • Defending one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies in multidistrict consumer class action litigation relating to 911 call-processing technology (N.D. Ill.)
  • Representing a leading networking equipment company as plaintiff in multibillion-dollar litigation and arbitration involving claims of monopolization, conspiracy in restraint of trade, trade secret misappropriation, and unfair competition (E.D. Tex.)
  • Defending one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies in national mass tort and consumer class actions (E.D. Pa., D. Md., D.D.C.)
  • Representing a leading consumer lending institution in federal class actions alleging violations of consumer protection laws (W.D. Tex., S.D. Tex.)
  • Defending a manufacturer in criminal and multidistrict class action antitrust litigation concerning alleged price-fixing in the commercial explosives industry (D. Utah)
  • Representing a large national financial holding company and its banking subsidiary in significant contract litigation against the United States government (Fed. Cl.)
  • Defending a major financial holding company and its insurance subsidiaries in national class actions alleging deceptive sales practices
  • Representing a name-brand pharmaceuticals company in Lanham Act false advertising cases against generic competitors (D. Minn.)

Complex Commercial Litigation

  • Representing a plaintiff telecommunications equipment company in prosecuting breach of contract and intentional interference claims (Tex. Dist. – Travis Cnty.)
  • Defending a manufacturer of telecommunications equipment in breach of contract and bankruptcy-related litigation (S.D. Tex.)
  • Representing a plaintiff telecommunications company in litigation involving allegations of fraud, perjury, embezzlement and fraudulent transfer (Tex. Dist. – Collin Cnty.)
  • Representing a major energy company in a federal grand jury investigation and related civil litigation relating to natural gas transactions (E.D. Tex.)
  • Defending a leading military contractor in a criminal prosecution based on allegations of fraud, interference with a foreign military sales contract, false statements, and conspiracy (S.D. Tex.)
  • Representing (as court-appointed counsel) criminal defendants and civil rights plaintiffs in pretrial and trial proceedings in state and federal courts