Santa Clara University School of Law
J.D., 2004
Magna Cum Laude (top 2.5%) · Order of the Coif
High Technology Certificate in Intellectual Property Law
Numerous scholarships
High-stakes technology disputes
Strategic counsel for complex intellectual property litigation.
Broken Top IP Litigation represents technology companies in high-stakes patent litigation, trade secret, copyright, PTAB, and complex technology disputes—combining BigLaw experience with focused, business-oriented advocacy from Bend, Oregon.
Jon Swenson
Seasoned judgment. Focused execution.
More than 20 years of experience in Silicon Valley working with technology companies. Jon has spent his career helping innovative companies navigate complex patent, intellectual property, and technology disputes.
Jon Swenson is an intellectual property litigator with more than two decades of experience representing technology companies in high-stakes disputes and complex business matters. He has led matters from pre-suit investigation through trial and advises clients on litigation strategy, transactions, acquisitions, intellectual property risk, and business-critical decisions.
Before establishing his Bend-based practice, Jon spent more than a decade as a partner in the Palo Alto office of Baker Botts. He is also affiliated with Cadwell Thomas LLP, where his practice focuses on sophisticated patent and technology disputes.
Education
Education & Academic Honors
California State University, Sacramento
B.S. Molecular Biology, 1999
Minor in Chemistry
Capabilities
Built for technically sophisticated disputes.
Patent Litigation
Defense and enforcement strategy in federal district courts, the ITC, the PTAB, and on appeal.
Trade Secrets
Emergency relief, employee mobility, technology misuse, competitive harm, and complex discovery.
Commercial & Technology Disputes
Contract, licensing, copyright, fraud, and business disputes involving advanced technologies.
Strategic Counseling
Pre-suit assessment, risk management, transactions, acquisitions, licensing, and portfolio strategy.
Admissions
Bar & Patent Office Admissions
California
State Bar of California · Admitted 2004
Bar No. 233054
Washington
Washington State Bar · Admitted 2022
Bar No. 59249
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
Registered Patent Attorney · Registered 2003
Reg. No. 53,660
Professional Background
More than two decades of litigation experience.
2022–Present
Solo Law Practice · Bend, Oregon
Represents clients in intellectual property disputes in federal court litigation and pre-litigation matters, as well as technology clients in corporate and transactional matters.
2010–2022
Baker Botts LLP · Partner, Intellectual Property & Technology Group · Palo Alto
Represented clients in intellectual property and other cases in federal and state courts and the ITC, with a focus on patent, copyright, trade secret, and other commercial technology disputes. Also advised technology companies on corporate and bankruptcy matters.
2008–2010
Townsend and Townsend · Palo Alto
Represented clients in patent litigation and other complex commercial litigation.
2005–2008
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP · Palo Alto
Litigated intellectual property and other complex commercial cases for technology clients and represented clients in white-collar criminal matters.
2004–2005
Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi LLP · Minneapolis
Litigated patent and product liability cases.
2003
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California · Judicial Extern · San Francisco
Attended court hearings, analyzed party briefs, and drafted court orders, including a significant patent claim construction order and a precedential opinion concerning assumption-of-risk liability.
Representative Experience
Practical strategy aligned with business goals.
- Represented leading communications technology companies in more than 50 patent matters involving billions of dollars in dispute.
- Handled technically complex disputes across telecommunications, software, electronics, semiconductors, and related technologies.
- Led matters spanning pre-suit investigations, discovery, claim construction, dispositive motions, trial, appeal, and settlement.
- Represented both patent owners and challengers in inter partes review proceedings before the PTAB.
“Relentless for clients, but always strategic—focused on resolving the dispute in a way that advances the client’s business.”
Selected Case Experience
Results in high-stakes technology disputes.
U.S. Supreme Court Patent Victory
Secured a landmark victory for eBay in its U.S. Supreme Court dispute with MercExchange, establishing that injunctions are not presumed in patent litigation.
AI Software · Patent & Trade Secrets
Successfully asserted patent, trade secret, and related claims for a private AI software company against a multinational competitor, resulting in sanctions, findings of spoliation, and bankruptcy proceedings that strengthened the client’s market position.
AI Expert Systems · Jury Verdict
Obtained a jury verdict of patent infringement involving AI-based expert systems on behalf of a Fortune Global 10 company against a direct competitor.
Patent Defense · Complete Dismissal
Achieved complete dismissal on the pleadings for a small company facing patent infringement claims brought by an international competitor.
Open-Source Software
Defeated claims against a technology client in a seminal open-source software dispute.
Communications Technology
Represented leading communications technology companies in more than 50 patent matters with billions of dollars in dispute.
Computer Processor Architecture
Secured recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars for an inventor in litigation involving modern computer processor architecture.
Networking Technology
Won dismissal on the pleadings for a networking technology company, resulting in a full walk-away by the plaintiff.
Selected matters include work performed while at prior firms. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Approach
01
Master the technology
Translate complex technical facts into clear, persuasive themes.
02
Find the pressure points
Identify the legal, economic, and procedural leverage that matters most.
03
Drive toward the objective
Align litigation tactics with the client’s broader commercial strategy.
Recognition
Lawdragon 500 Leading Global IP Lawyer
2026
Lawdragon 500 Leading Global IP Lawyers
Jon Swenson was selected to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global IP Lawyers for intellectual property litigation.
View the Lawdragon 2026 guideNews, Speaking & Coverage
Selected professional announcements and appearances.
May 2026 · Firm Announcement
Cadwell Thomas Adds Experienced Intellectual Property Litigator
Cadwell Thomas announced Jon Swenson's addition to the firm, highlighting more than 20 years of technology litigation experience, more than 50 communications patent matters, and his work in post-grant proceedings.
Read announcementMay 2026 · Industry Coverage
Veteran IP Litigator Jon Swenson Joins Cadwell Thomas
The International Intellectual Property Law Association reported on Jon's move to Cadwell Thomas and his experience in high-stakes patent, commercial, and technology disputes.
Read coverageMarch 2018 · Speaking
Berkeley Law & Technology Speaker Series
Participated as moderator in the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology / Berkeley Technology Law Journal Law & Tech Speaker Series while serving as a Baker Botts hiring partner.
View event noticeAdditional authored publications can be added as verified citations become available.
Contact
Discuss a dispute or strategic issue.
For conflicts purposes, please do not send confidential information until an attorney-client relationship has been confirmed in writing.
Jon Swenson
Attorney
650-773-9185 jon@brokentopiplaw.com brokentopiplaw.com 61295 Gorge View StBend, OR 97702