Alexander J. Chern

Alex is a trial lawyer who routinely handles high-stakes intellectual property cases and cases involving Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory (“FRAND”) licensing of standard essential patents.

As a former federal judicial clerk, Alex understands how to craft persuasive arguments and present those arguments to both judges and juries.  Alex successfully writes and argues critical motions in federal court, takes and defends depositions, and prepares witnesses for trial.  Alex also specializes in developing trial strategies and themes in breach of FRAND cases and cases involving FRAND-encumbered patents: Alex recently represented Ericsson in its FRAND-related disputes with Apple and Samsung, where he played a key role in securing victories on critical motions and helped create and implement successful litigation strategies that led to favorable settlements.     

Before joining McKool Smith, Alex spent a year as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Amos L. Mazzant of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and worked at a top international firm.  While in law school, Alex was awarded the Justice Mack Kidd Outstanding Senior Appellate Advocacy Award, the Dean's Achievement Award in Legal Research & Writing, and was inducted into the Order of the Barristers as one of the best advocates in the graduating class. He also spent a full year drafting briefs filed with the United States Supreme Court as a member of UT Law's U.S. Supreme Court Clinic and served as a law clerk for the Texas Office of the Solicitor General.

• Ericsson v. Apple: Represented Ericsson in FRAND-related and patent infringement disputes against Apple.  In addition to helping craft Ericsson’s litigation strategy and taking fact and expert witness depositions, Alex helped secure major pre-trial victories, including on motions that he drafted and argued in court.  Alex also helped prepare key Ericsson witnesses for trial.  After 4 days of trial, the parties settled on confidential terms.    
• Ericsson v. Samsung: Represented Ericsson in a FRAND-related dispute against Samsung.  Alex helped secure a crucial anti-interference injunction (also called a foreign anti-antisuit injunction) preventing Samsung from enforcing an antisuit injunction it had obtained in Wuhan, China.  After Ericsson obtained the anti-interference injunction, the parties settled on confidential terms.
• IP Bridge v. Ericsson: Represented Ericsson in its dispute with IP Bridge.  After IP Bridge sued Ericsson for alleged patent infringement, Alex helped craft offensive FRAND-related counterclaims, took fact and expert witness depositions on FRAND- and damages-related issues, and helped build persuasive trial themes.  Before trial began, the parties settled on confidential terms.
• Arbitration: In addition to representing clients in court, Alex also represents clients in confidential international arbitrations.
• Licensing Negotiations: Alex assists clients with patent licensing negotiations, both before litigation is filed and while litigation is ongoing.

• Named among the Top Most Active and Performing Attorneys Representing Complainants by the Patexia ITC Intelligence Report, 2024