Courtland Reichman Honored as Top 100 Lawyer by Daily Journal
Courtland Reichman has been honored as one of the Top 100 Lawyers by the Daily Journal. Courtland’s interest in the legal profession began in childhood—he set his sights on becoming a lawyer by age 7, inspired in part by a fascination with advocacy over academia.
Reflecting on his move from economics research to the courtroom, Courtland shared, “I gravitated to the advocacy process.” His commitment was cemented during a formative experience at the Fulton County Public Defender’s Office, where he worked on a murder trial. “I realized the first day that this was my calling,” he said.
A clerkship with Judge Lanier Anderson of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal further shaped his approach, instilling the importance of thoughtful legal analysis and professional kindness. “He also demonstrated the importance of kindness in practicing law, a trait all too often missing these days,” Courtland said.
Courtland’s career is marked by precedent-setting patent wins, including a $673 million win against Amazon Web Services—the largest surviving patent verdict of 2024 and a top 10 patent verdict within the last decade. The case, which concerned cloud storage technology, also provided valuable trial opportunities for up-and-coming attorneys. As Courtland noted, “It showcased how younger lawyers can be instrumental in trying cases. Most of the trial was handled by our associates and younger lawyers – quite successfully.”
In addition to this achievement, Courtland’s notable work includes securing $237 million and $84 million verdicts for Cirba against VMware, and delivering a $27 million award for Droplets after a lengthy dispute with Yahoo.
Courtland is candid about the hurdles facing inventors and their counsel in patent litigation: “In countless ways, the patent system is stacked against inventors.” He describes the path to trial as complex, often requiring litigants to address many legal obstacles and to sustain appeals against well-resourced adversaries.
He also made an impact in regulatory law by overturning Berkeley’s gas stove ban—a 9th Circuit decision with widespread implications for state energy policy. On overcoming doubt in that case, Courtland noted, “Essentially, nobody believed that the statute we identified preempted the cities' attempts to ban gas stoves – and that includes the district judge.”
Regarding the evolution of patent law, Courtland highlights its increasing intricacy and divergence from other legal fields. “Patent law is increasingly being treated as different than other areas of the law, despite the Supreme Court's statements to the contrary,” he said. He also expresses concern about declining civility and the reduced availability of courtroom experience for younger lawyers.
To read the full interview, the Top 100 Lawyers Special Edition Magazine can be found here (subscriber access required).