Michelle E. Armond

Michelle E. Armond co-founded Armond Wilson LLP in 2019 to practice patent, trademark and trade secret litigation. Her client roster expanded rapidly and now includes Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Purdue University, Sumitomo Group, Edwards Lifesciences Corp., Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc., GE HealthCare Technologies Inc., Alpine Electronics Inc. and Targus International LLC.

“We’re small, but we’ve had a lot of big wins, and people take notice,” said Armond in April of her eight-person firm. “It’s our fourth anniversary this month, and we are busier than ever. IP has been consistently busy, and we turn away a lot of cases. The nice thing about having your own firm is that there’s no pressure to take everything that comes in the door. I actually have a waiting list.”

Her background includes two years as a law clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at Caltech and a stint as articles editor at the Berkeley Technology Law Review while she got her JD at UC Berkeley School of Law. She’s worked as a partner and practice group leader at Knobbe Martens and at Irell & Manella LLP.

For client VideoShare LLC, Armond defeated Google LLC and Facebook in three separate inter partes review, CBM and ex parte re-examination proceedings challenging VideoShare’s patent relating to video streaming technologies.

The win at the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board allowed co-pending litigation helmed by another firm to go forward — and resulted in a $28 million jury verdict for the client. Google LLC and Facebook v. VideoShare LLC, Nos. IPR2020-01631, CBM2020-00027, Reexamination 90/014,894 (PTAB, filed Sept. 15, 2020).

“We paved the way,” Armond said. “We work a lot with other firms — because if you can’t get past the Patent Office, your case is over.”

For mobile computing accessories maker Targus International, Armond defended against challenges by a rival over patents for innovations related to Targus’ airport checkpoint-friendly laptop bags and cases. She obtained a rare decision following a full trial at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board confirming the validity of all 40 challenged claims. Group III International, Inc. v. Targus International LLC, IPR2021-00371 (PTAB, filed July 9, 2021).

When the case and two related matters proceeded in federal court in Florida, Armond won more than $2 million for her client. The matter is on appeal. Targus International LLC v. Group III International Inc., 20-cv-21435 (S.D. Fla., filed April 2, 2020).

—John Roemer