David J. Kappos is Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property Practice. He is widely recognized as one of the world’s foremost leaders in the field of intellectual property, including intellectual property management and strategy, the development of global intellectual property norms, laws and practices as well as commercialization and enforcement of innovation‑based assets. Kappos advises Cravath’s clients on a wide range of their most complex intellectual property issues, including those pertaining to artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptoassets and fintech, as well as cybersecurity and data privacy.
From August 2009 to January 2013, Kappos served as Under Secretary of Commerce and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In that role, he advised the President, the Secretary of Commerce and the Administration on intellectual property policy matters. As Director of the USPTO, he led the Agency in dramatically re‑engineering its entire management and operational systems as well as its engagement with the global innovation community. He was instrumental in achieving the greatest legislative reform of the U.S. patent system in generations through passage and implementation of the America Invents Act, signed into law by President Obama in September 2011.
Lawdragon Honors
| Honor | Year | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global IP Lawyers | 2026 | IP, Licensing, Strategy |
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers | 2026 | IP, inc. Data Privacy & Cybersecurity |
| The Inaugural Lawdragon 500 Leading Global IP Lawyers | 2025 | IP, Licensing, Strategy |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers | 2025 | IP, inc. Data Privacy & Cybersecurity |
| The 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers | 2024 | IP, inc. Data Privacy & Cybersecurity |
| The 2018 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America | 2018 | |
| The 2017 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America | 2017 | |
| The 2016 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America | 2016 | |
| The 2014-15 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers | 2014-2015 | |
| The 2013 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers | 2013 |
Prior to leading the USPTO, Kappos held several executive posts in the legal department of IBM, including litigation counsel, Asia Pacific IP counsel and, from 2003 to 2009, Vice President and Chief Intellectual Property Lawyer responsible for all patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret matters worldwide.
Kappos’s notable matters include representing:
- Disney in its $85 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox;
- Paramount’s special committee in the $28 billion merger with Skydance;
- Amazon in its $8.45 billion acquisition of MGM;
- Brookfield Renewable in its strategic partnership with Cameco to acquire Westinghouse for $8 billion;
- Biogen in its $7.3 billion acquisition of Reata Pharmaceuticals, its $1.25 billion settlement and license agreement with Forward Pharma, the expansion of its existing agreement with Eisai to jointly develop and commercialize investigational Alzheimer’s disease treatments and its strategic collaboration agreement with Skyhawk;
- Johnson & Johnson in the separation of Kenvue and its $6.5 billion acquisition of Momenta;
- The Snyder family in the $6.05 billion sale of the NFL’s Washington Commanders to a partnership led by Josh Harris;
- The Aquarion Water Authority in its pending $2.4 billion acquisition of Aquarion Water Company from Eversource Energy;
- Prosus in its $1.8 billion acquisition of Stack Overflow;
- Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance in its $1.44 billion investment in Barings;
- Paragon 28 in its $1.2 billion acquisition by Zimmer Biomet;
- Hailey Bieber in the $1 billion acquisition of rhode by e.l.f. Beauty;
- Light & Wonder in its $850 million acquisition of Grover Charitable Gaming;
- Robinhood in its IPO, its $300 million acquisition of TradePMR and its joint venture and partnership with Susquehanna to operate a CFTC‑licensed exchange and clearinghouse and the related acquisition of MIAXdx;
- Ashland in the sale of its nutraceuticals business to Turnspire Capital Partners;
- CardWorks in its acquisition of Ally’s credit card business;
- Just Eat Takeaway.com in the sale of Grubhub to Wonder;
- Pitney Bowes in the sale of Borderfree to Global‑e;
- Quibi in its sale to Roku;
- Siegfried in its acquisition of Noramco, Purisys and Extractas Bioscience from SK Capital