Douglas R. Nemec is head of Skadden’s Intellectual Property Litigation Group, concentrating his practice on litigating complex cases involving intellectual property and technology. He approaches every case with the philosophy that good advocacy transcends geography, technology space and substantive area of the law.
In the diverse range of matters Nemec has led in state and federal courts from coast to coast, he has obtained positive results for clients in matters ranging from patent infringement to trade secrets to high-stakes licensing disputes. The technologies involved have been equally wide-ranging. With a background in bioengineering, Nemec has a particular fondness for life sciences matters, but has equal aptitude helping judges and juries to understand technological matters involving computers, electronics, industrial chemicals and mechanical structures.
Lawdragon Honors
| Honor | Year | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global IP Lawyers | 2026 | Patent Litigation |
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2026 | IP Litigation |
| The Inaugural Lawdragon 500 Leading Global IP Lawyers | 2025 | Patent Litigation |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2025 | IP Litigation |
| The 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2024 | IP Litigation |
| Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2022 | IP Litigation |
Working alongside Skadden’s corporate practice, Mr. Nemec has significant experience beyond litigation, including advising on mergers and acquisitions, licensing, and general IP counseling. As a registered patent attorney, he also represents clients in matters before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which has become an important complement to the firm’s IP litigation practice. Additionally, in life sciences matters, Nemec has advised on defense of patent infringement claims, enforcement of patent and other IP rights, and inter partes reviews related to the treatment of a variety of ailments and diseases.
Selected engagements in which Nemec has served a lead role include:
- securing a jury verdict for defendant Universal Alloy Corporation in a trade secret misappropriation case concerning aluminum alloy aircraft parts brought by Arconic Corp. (f/k/a Alcoa) in the Northern District of Georgia
- representing JP Morgan Chase as lead counsel in multiple patent infringement matters, including securing findings of non-infringement and patent invalidity at the trial and appellate court levels in Delaware, California and the Federal Circuit
- defending Dell in a software copyright, Lanham Act and breach of contract action in Massachusetts federal court brought by a former software and services provider
- defending Caterpillar against patent infringement claims asserted by an after-market parts supplier and pursuing counterclaims, including copyright infringement, false advertising and unfair competition, in the same matter in Chicago federal court
- defending a group of refined coal technology companies in Delaware federal court against claims of patent infringement concerning mercury emission reduction techniques