Chase A. Cobern

Chase A. Cobern is a lawyer and CPA with a passion for identifying, developing, and presenting clients’ legal arguments as clearly and persuasively as possible. He practices in MWM’s litigation group with an emphasis on appellate matters. An enthusiast for effective written advocacy, Mr. Cobern has led briefing efforts on high-stakes issues in every phase of civil litigation, from dispositive motions to review before the U.S. Supreme Court. He is also a seasoned oral advocate, having successfully argued appeals in both federal and state courts.

In Repifi Vendor Logistics, Inc. v. IntelliCentrics, Inc., No. 2021-1906 (Fed. Cir. 2022) (Opinion) (Oral Argument), Mr. Cobern authored briefs and presented oral argument that successfully persuaded an appellate court to invalidate a patent as ineligible under 35 U.S.C. §101 at the pleadings stage, resulting in early dismissal of costly patent litigation in the Eastern District of Texas.

In Stonewater Roofing, Ltd. Co. v. Texas Department of Insurance, 641 S.W.3d 794 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2022) (Opinion) (Oral Argument pt. 1; pt. 2), Mr. Cobern authored briefs and presented oral argument that successfully persuaded an appellate court to reverse a lower court’s dismissal of constitutional challenges to a Texas statute under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. The appellate court not only reinstated the constitutional challenges but held that the challenged statute must face strict scrutiny on remand, rendering it presumptively invalid.

In AMS Sensors USA Inc. v. Renesas Electronics America Inc., No. 4:08-cv-00451 (E.D. Tex. 2021) (Article), Mr. Cobern served as lead associate on a trial team that secured a federal jury verdict of $85.9 million in damages for trade secret misappropriation and breach of contract. Mr. Cobern argued the jury charge and preserved and presented arguments on a range of legal issues throughout the two-week trial.

In Galderma Laboratories L.P. v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., No. 19-2396 (Fed. Cir. 2020) (Opinion), Mr. Cobern authored briefs that persuaded an appellate court to reverse an adverse judgment on the briefing alone, reviving an international pharmaceutical company’s patent protection and restoring its market leadership.

Outside the office, Mr. Cobern enjoys spending time with his wife, Rachel, and their three children (Nolan, Quinn, and Cal).

Representative Matters

• Defending international pharmaceutical company in litigation involving claims of patent infringement, trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, trade dress infringement, and unfair competition (D. Del.);
• Representing optoelectronic sensor company in trade secret and contract litigation, resulting in 8-figure jury verdict (now in post-trial and appellate phase) (E.D. Tex. / Fed. Cir.);
• Defending streaming technology company in patent litigation (E.D. Tex.);
• Representing commercial roofing company in First Amendment challenge to statute (Tex.);
• Defending oil and gas exploration company in securities litigation in post-trial and appellate proceedings, resulting in reversal of adverse judgment on appeal (now on subsequent appeal) (Colo.);
• Defended healthcare technology company in patent litigation, resulting in dismissal on the pleadings and invalidation of all asserted claims under 35 U.S.C. § 101 (E.D. Tex. / Fed. Cir.);
• Represented inertial sensor company in patent litigation in post-trial and appellate proceedings (Fed. Cir. / S. Ct.);
• Represented international pharmaceutical company in patent litigation (ANDA) against generic competitors, resulting in reversal of adverse judgment on appeal (D. Del. / Fed. Cir.);
• Represented automated vending retailer in patent litigation against competitors, resulting in favorable settlement (D. Del.).

Education

Associations & Memberships

State Bar of Texas

Federalist Society

Dallas Bar Association

Dallas Association of Young Lawyers

Honors & Awards

Texas Rising Star, Thomson Reuters
2023

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Woodward White, Inc.
2021 – 2023

Bar Admissions

Texas, 2016

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit

U.S. District Court, Northern District of 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

Guest Lecturer, “Effective Legal Writing for Associates,” Advanced Legal Writing Course, University of Texas School of Law (2018-2022)

A Slip of the Tongue: How the Supreme Court Placed Airline Immunity in the Clouds,
80 J. Air L. & Com. 249 (2015)