Claim construction proceedings arise when the parties to a patent dispute cannot agree on the meaning of the terms used in the patent claims — the language that defines the scope of the patent holder’s exclusive rights. Courts resolve these disputes through Markman hearings, in which the construction of disputed claim terms is determined as a matter of law. The outcome of these proceedings frequently narrows or expands the field of potentially infringing conduct, making claim construction one of the most consequential stages of patent litigation.

Technical evidence plays a central role in these proceedings. Patents in fields such as software systems, financial technology, telecommunications, and data processing require the court to interpret claim language against a backdrop of complex technical subject matter. Expert witnesses — drawn from the relevant scientific or engineering disciplines — are retained to explain the technology at issue, to opine on the meaning of claim terms to a person of ordinary skill in the art, and to assist the court in understanding the prior art landscape that bears on validity.

• Markman hearings and claim construction proceedings in district court and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board
• Disputes over the interpretation of patent claim terms in technology-intensive fields
• Management and presentation of technical expert testimony on patent scope and prior art
• Translation of complex technical subject matter into persuasive legal argument for judicial proceedings
• Coordination of technical evidence with infringement, validity, and damages analyses