Michael Caulkins focuses his practice on complex technology and patent litigation, bringing a strong foundation in mechanical engineering to his work. He represents leading global technology companies in high‑stakes disputes involving a wide range of technologies, including wearable devices, web design technology, smart home technology, telecommunications, computer security, and semiconductor chips. He is also registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Prior to joining RJLF, Michael practiced at two Am Law 100 firms, handling multi‑patent, cross‑forum proceedings before the International Trade Commission (ITC), Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and federal courts, as well as high‑stakes copyright, trade dress, Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), and trade secret matters. Michael also brings prior industry experience as a mechanical engineer at a global leader in precision technology solutions, where he gained hands‑on experience in product development and engineered systems.

Michael received his J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law, where he served as Senior Production Editor of the Santa Clara High Tech Law Journal. During law school, he externed for the Honorable Susan Illston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Representative Matters

• Represented a leading global e-commerce and technology company in a patent litigation involving wearable technology in the Western District of Texas.

• Represented Bytedance in a multi-patent litigation involving web design patents in the Eastern District of Texas.

• Represented a major multinational technology company in a multi-patent litigation involving security monitoring technology in the Western District of Texas.

• Represented Minka in multiple forums, including as a respondent in an ITC investigation, in the Central District of California, and at the PTAB.

• Represented Temu in a DMCA, copyright infringement, trade dress infringement, and trade secret misappropriation case against a rival e-commerce giant in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

• Represented a television station license holder in a copyright infringement and breach of contract litigation involving retransmission consent rights in the District of Massachusetts.

• Represented Trend Micro in a litigation involving 17 computer security patents, including infringement counterclaims filed by Trend Micro, in the Western District of Texas.

• Represented Trend Micro in an offensive multi-patent litigation involving computer security patents in the Eastern District of Texas.

• Represented GlobalFoundries in a multi-patent litigation involving semiconductor fabrication technology in the Western District of Texas.

• Represented a leading global search engine and technology company in a multi-patent litigation involving smart home technology in the Western District of Texas.