Steve Spears is an accomplished attorney with over twenty-five years of experience in patent litigation, patent portfolio management, and trademarks within the biotechnology, chemical, telecommunications, and oilfield services industries. As former in-house counsel at Baker Hughes, Steve played a pivotal role in providing strategic legal guidance and expertise to one of the world’s leading energy technology companies.

Throughout his career, Steve has led litigation, arbitration, and inter partes reviews and provided strategic counsel on intellectual enforcement, freedom to operate and licensing issues.  His IP controversy experience includes being integrally involved in two separate billion-dollar trial wins (one defense and one plaintiff). 

In addition to his work on IP controversies, Steve has successfully managed extensive international patent and trademark portfolios, assisting clients in safeguarding and maximizing the value of their intellectual property assets. His meticulous attention to detail and comprehensive understanding of the patent landscape enables him to devise tailored strategies that align with the company’s business objectives.  His broad experience allows him to meet a client’s full spectrum of intellectual property needs and guide them through complex controversies.

  • Oversaw litigation wins in Norway, Canada, the PTAB and US courts, including both defensive wins and offensive settlements for an energy technology company
  • Oversaw enterprise-wide branding for an international energy technology company
  • Represented an agricultural biotech company in IP Due Diligence matters
  • Lead counsel for a telecommunications company in IPRs and resulting Federal Circuit appeals
  • Represented a chemical company in IP inventorship and trade secret dispute related to development work in Canada and the Netherlands
  • Trial counsel defending an agricultural biotech company against a patent infringement case brought by a competitor seeking $1.5 billion in damages resulting in a complete defense verdict.
  • Arbitration counsel for an agricultural biotech company in AAA arbitration over disputed international royalties
  • Defended a software company from trade secret claims in Texas state court involving a newly developed software product
  • Represented offshore production company in a dispute related to failed offshore rig mooring wires made in the U.K.

Press Releases

Munck Wilson Mandala Welcomes IP Litigation Partner Steven Spears

Spears has an extensive background in patent litigation and other intellectual property matters and has worked as a partner in various Houston law firms, including McDermott, Will and Emery, and Arnold White and Durkee. “Steve is a perfect addition to our team,” said John Cain, managing partner of MWM’s Houston office and a leading trademark

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University of Texas School of Law, JD

cum laude

Order of the Coif

Rice University, BA

Chemistry

cum laude

  • The Honorable Nancy F. Atlas Intellectual Property American Inn of Court (President in 2019-20)
  • Houston Bar Association

  • IAM Patent 1000 – World’s Leading Patent Practitioners 2012 to 2019
  • The Best Lawyers in America 2010 to 2019, 2017 “Lawyer of the Year” for IP in Houston
  • Managing IP, IP Star, 2016 to present
  • AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review
    Rated in Martindale-Hubbell

Texas, 1991

Florida, Inactive

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas