Overview

Michael T. Zoppo focuses his practice on the intellectual property needs of financial services companies and other cutting-edge high-tech and life sciences innovators, whether that means taking a case to trial, developing an IP portfolio, or strategic counseling.

As a trial lawyer with first-chair experience and versed in a broad range of technologies, Michael frequently serves as lead counsel in high-profile cases with millions of dollars at stake. Because cases between competitors often give rise to more than just patent claims, Michael has also litigated trade secret, Lanham Act, breach of contract, defamation, and fraud claims.

Michael has scored big wins for major financial institutions, including insurance companies, banks, and national exchanges. In addition to being a principal in the litigation practice group, Michael is a registered patent lawyer and counsels startup companies to Fortune 100 companies regarding their IP portfolios. He has been brought in to oversee the prosecution of key patent applications as well as to guide portfolio development and monetization. Utilizing his litigation and prosecution background, Michael has an active post-grant practice and has first-chaired multiple America Invents Act trials.

Before focusing his practice on litigation and counseling, Michael spent several years prosecuting patent applications in technical disciplines such as power systems, chemistry, aircraft propulsion, and semiconductors. Prior to entering the legal field, Michael founded a startup that offered web-based auction services.

Experience

Co-lead trial counsel for a plaintiff pharmaceutical company in Hatch-Waxman actions involving a blockbuster non-opioid analgesic for postsurgical pain. After pursuing patent infringement claims in multiple U.S. District Courts and an appeal to the Federal Circuit, the parties settled all claims resulting in the generic delaying a complete launch for nearly fifteen years. Shares of our client’s stock surged upon the announcement of the settlement.

Auto Telematics Ltd. v. USAA and Noblr (W.D. Tex.): Lead counsel defending claims that a mobile phone-based insurance telematics platform infringes four patents. Obtained dismissal with prejudice after IPR petitions invalidated all asserted claims. 

USAA v. Mitek Systems Inc. (W.D. Tex.): In a landmark case focused on remote deposit capture technology, Michael served as lead patent counsel for USAA, defending against Mitek’s allegations of patent infringement. Obtained summary judgment of non-infringement for all asserted patents. Also represented USAA on claims of trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, defamation, and fraud.

Asghari-Kamrani v. USAA (E.D. Va.): Served as lead counsel for USAA, defending against allegations of infringing a patent relating to two-factor authentication. Obtained order invalidating the patent-in-suit under Alice, affirmance from the Federal Circuit, and denial of certiorari from the Supreme Court.

Smart Authentication IP v. USAA (E.D. Tex.): Served as lead counsel for USAA, defending against allegations of infringing a patent relating to two-factor authentication.

St. Isidore v. USAA (E.D. Tex.): Served as lead patent counsel for USAA, defending against allegations of infringing patents relating to two-factor authentication.

Annuitek LLC v. USAA Life Insurance Company (E.D. Tex.): As lead counsel, represented USAA in patent litigation concerning the pricing of annuity contracts.

Unified Messaging Solutions, LLC v. USAA (N.D. Ill. and W.D. Tex.): Represented USAA in patent litigation concerning cross-platform messaging. Final judgment entered in USAA’s favor, and obtained attorneys’ fees.

Novozymes A/S and Novozymes North America, Inc. v. C T E Global, Inc., (N.D. Ill.): Represented plaintiff-patentee Novozymes in litigation against U.S. importer of glucoamylase industrial enzymes (used in the manufacture of fuel ethanol) and obtained permanent injunction.

Chicago Board Options Exchange v. International Securities Exchange (N.D. Ill.): As co-lead counsel, represented the Chicago Board against ISE in litigation concerning a patent on a fully computerized exchange. ISE consented to judgment in CBOE’s favor right before opening statements were to begin. Judgment of non-infringement was affirmed by the Federal Circuit, and the District Court awarded over $6 million dollars in attorneys’ fees to CBOE.

Realtime Data v. Chicago Board Options Exchange (S.D.N.Y.): As lead counsel, represented the Chicago Board against Realtime Data in a litigation concerning patents on data compression, particularly regarding financial data.

C2 Options Exchange v. International Securities Exchange (N.D. Ill.): Represented the C2 Exchange in a litigation concerning a patent on a fully computerized exchange.

Layne Christensen v. The Purolite Company (D. Kan.): Represented water purification company in litigation involving allegations of patent infringement and breach of contract.

Certain Disc Drives, Components Thereof, and Products Containing Same (USITC 337-TA-516): Represented hard disk drive manufacturer in investigation involving servo technology, magnetic media, and mechanical structures contained in micro-disc drives.

Seagate Technology LLC v. Cornice, Inc. (D. Del.): Represented hard disk drive manufacturer in investigation involving servo technology, magnetic media, and mechanical structures contained in micro-disc drives

Represented a semiconductor manufacturer in multiple litigations concerning doping of wide band gap semiconductors, commonly used in light emitting diodes and laser diodes.

Represented a DRAM manufacturer in litigation concerning patents directed to increasing bandwidth.

Testimonials

  • “Michael Zoppo provides groundbreaking solutions to complex challenges at every stage of disputes in the finance, technology and life sciences sectors. When a case goes to trial, he excels at securing significant victories.”— 2025 IAM Patent 1000

  • "[Michael] is a great representative that kept the team here well informed and up to date on all the developments of our case. He is a credit to the Fish & Richardson team.” — Client Testimonial, 2023 Chambers and Partners USA

  • "He’s a treat to work with. He’s very responsive, very creative and always very pleasant. He has a can-do attitude and never points out problems unaccompanied by solutions. Michael Zoppo’s team strives for efficient and creative results." — Client Testimonial, 2022 Chambers and Partners USA
  • "For a litigator in New York, look to Michael Zoppo, an experienced first-chair trial lawyer with a glittering track record representing insurance companies, banks and exchanges in commercially consequential patent duels." — 2019 IAM Patent 1000
  • "Michael Zoppo has been firing on all cylinders advocating for rights holders in the financial sector. He really understands how sophisticated and innovative financial services companies do business, which gives him an edge in many ways…" — 2018 IAM Patent 1000
  • Fish’s "New York office is a vital resource pool in terms of staffing trial teams, but in Michael Zoppo it also has someone to fill a lead role." — 2017 IAM Patent 1000