Paul Lesko

Attorney Paul Lesko is the head of the Simmons firm's Intellectual Property Department.  Paul focuses his practice on helping inventors and small businesses develop and maintain an equal footing in the marketplace by enforcing their intellectual property rights against companies that infringe those rights.

Paul’s cases have taken on entire industries, including the financial, telecommunications and electronic voting industries.  He has represented clients against some of the world’s largest companies, including Google, Apple, Visa and Cisco.

Paul represents clients nationwide and has obtained millions of dollars in settlements on their behalf, including litigation in California, Delaware, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Texas and throughout Illinois and arguing before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C. 

Paul’s IP practice has involved a wide range of technologies, including Internet, computer software, electronic voting, telecommunications, financial, welding, sports protective, hunting, clothing, transgenic biotechnologies, and a wide-variety of chemical related technologies.

Prior to working with the Simmons firm, Paul worked for a large, defense firm where he defended companies against allegations of intellectual property infringement, counseled companies on how to avoid infringement claims or, where necessary, invalidate patents asserted against them.  Paul now utilizes this unique insight on behalf of holders of intellectual property to assist start-ups, small companies, inventors and authors in obtaining settlements and judgments against those who infringe their intellectual property.

Paul's technical knowledge and experience extends beyond the courtroom. He is also registered to practice before the United States Patent Office and holds degrees in Biochemistry and Honors Biology.  Paul has discussed intellectual property issues in newspapers, journals, on the Internet and on the radio.

Noteworthy

• Recognized by Super Lawyers magazine as a "2009 Rising Star"

News & Publications

Of Fathers, Sons, Baseball Cards, and Intellectual Property, IP Law & Business, June, 2009

EchoStar Runs Afoul of Tivo's Video Patents, New York Times, August, 2006

Two-time speaker on “The Law in Your Life,” on KTRS-AM (550 AM) and www.KTRS.com (2006).

Could a Patent Lawsuit Stop the Xbox 360?, PC Word, April, 2006

Attack of the Clones... and the Issues of Clones, The Columbia Science and Technology Law Review, Vol. III, 2002

Make, Use, Cell, IP Worldwide, August/September, 2000

Ballot Boxing: Patent Fight over E-Voting Inventor Comes Back from the Dead   

Microsoft Patent Claims Hint at Internal Issues

Professional & Community Affiliations

• American Association for Justice
• American Bar Association
• Louisiana Bar Association
• Missouri Bar Association
• Illinois Bar Association