Partner

Phillip M. Aurentz

Commercial Litigation and Disputes
IP Litigation

paurentz@sidley.com

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PHILLIP AURENTZ is an experienced trial lawyer with a focus on patent litigation. He has represented companies as both plaintiffs and defendants across various industries including computing, oil field, heavy equipment, medical, and banking.

He has tried numerous cases that have resulted in millions in damages or take-nothing verdicts depending on which side of the aisle his client is situated. Phillip has also handled appeals for his clients, arguing successfully at the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. He also advises his clients on licensing and strategic decision making focused on their business or intellectual property needs.

Phillip has consistently been recognized as one of the top young lawyers in Texas by being named a “Rising Star” by Texas Super Lawyers in 2010 and 2015–2021, and a “Future Star” by Benchmark Litigation, most recently in its 2024 edition.

Prior to law school, Phillip worked at Exxon Mobil Corporation as a production gas plants project engineer. While in law school, he was an associate editor of the Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal. He also earned the Dean’s Achievement Award in Patent Law and the Dean’s Achievement Award in Creditor’s Rights and Consumer Bankruptcy.

Experience

DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH and DynaEnergetics US Inc. v. GR Energy Services Operating GP LLC – Representing GR Energy in a patent case related to downhole perforating technology. Most recently, successfully obtained a stay pending proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
Panasonic Corporation v. Magna International Inc. - Representing Magna in district court litigation brought by Panasonic relating to camera system and radar device patents.
Prova Group, Inc. v. Cintas - Represented Cintas in a patent suit in the Western District of Texas involving five patents related to tracking authenticated items and equipment management.
Represented Husky in a number of cases related to alleged personal injury actions filed by plaintiffs.
Represented a leading specialty insurance company to uphold district court decisions in favor of insurers relating to COVID-19 business interruption cases.

Phillip’s experience prior to joining Sidley includes:

Legacy Separators LLC v. Halliburton Energy Services Inc. – Co-lead counsel that presented closing argument for Halliburton in federal court suit alleging breach of contract, patent infringement, and theft of trade secrets, resulting in a take nothing defense verdict for Halliburton.
Centego v. MetroSplash – Provided first chair defense of MetroSplash in a jury trial for fraud and breach of contract, resulting in zero damages on plaintiff’s largest claim.
Unwired Planet v. Google – Prepared and argued appeal before the Federal Circuit on issues of claim construction and summary judgment on behalf of Unwired Planet, resulting in a partial reversal and remand in favor of Unwired Planet.
Summit 6, LLC v. Samsung – Part of the trial team that obtained a jury verdict against Samsung for their infringement of Summit 6's digital media patents. The judgment was affirmed by the Federal Circuit.
American Brownfield, MCIC v. Triumph Aerostructures – Represented American Brownfield in a breach of contract matter, resulting in a favorable settlement prior to pre-trial.
Deere & Co. v. Bush Hog Inc. – Secured a take-nothing judgment on behalf of the Alamo Group Inc. and Bush Hog Inc. in a patent case related to rotary cutters.
Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill MDL Litigation – Represented Halliburton and Sperry Sun, with focus on defense strategy and management of all matters related to expert analysis and testimony in the MDL litigation arising out of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
MCR Oil Tools v. Halliburton – Represented Halliburton in commercial litigation matter filed in state court related to contractual rights to radial cutting torch technology.
Weatherford International Inc. and Weatherford/Lamb Inc. v. Halliburton and General Plastics & Composites L.P. – Represented Halliburton and General Plastics in a patent suit in the Eastern District of Texas (Marshall Division) related to a method of forming composite parts for use in downhole tools, such as frac plugs, bridge plugs, and packers.
Aloft Media LLC v. Oracle Corporation, et al. – Successfully represented Halliburton by obtaining dismissal of patent litigation in the Eastern District of Texas related to computer software.
ReedHycalog UK Ltd. v. US Synthetic Corporation and Halliburton Energy Services Inc. – Represented US Synthetic and Halliburton against patent infringement claims filed by ReedHycalog based on four patents related to leached diamond drill-bit cutting elements, in the Eastern District of Texas.
Loyalty Conversion Systems Corporation v. American Airlines, Inc. – Represented American Airlines against patent infringement claims filed by Loyalty Conversion Systems based on two patents related to the airline’s computerized loyalty program.
Walker Digital LLC v. American Airlines, Inc. et al – Represented American Airlines against patent infringement claims brought by Walker Digital LLC related to the sales of packaged products.
Stambler v. Amazon.com, Inc. et al – Represented American Airlines in the patent infringement suit brought by Stambler based to two patents related to online secure sales technology. American Airlines was one of many prominent companies named in the suit.

State Bar of Texas
Member of the Dallas Bar Association
Member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association
The Honorable Barbara M. G. Lynn American Inn of Court, inaugural class, two-year member

Credentials

Admissions & Certifications

U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
U.S. District Court, E.D. of Texas
U.S. District Court, W.D. of Texas
U.S. District Court, N.D. of Texas
U.S. District Court, S.D. of Texas
U.S. District Court, W.D. of Wisconsin
Texas

Education

The University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 2007 (Order of the Coif)
University of Texas at Austin, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, 2003 (with honors)