Steven M. Bauer, Esq., FCIArb is internationally recognized for resolving complex life sciences, technology, and software  disputes. His matters frequently involve R&D collaborations, commercial and IP licensing agreements, and patent, trade secret, trademark, and copyright issues. Steve joined JAMS following a distinguished career at Proskauer, where he co-chaired the firm's 200-lawyer Litigation Department and its 50-lawyer Patent and Intellectual Property Group, was a member of its International Arbitration practice group, headed its Boston office, and served on the firm's seven-member Executive Committee. 

As both a neutral and an advocate, Steve has earned a reputation for tenacity balanced by an even temperament, a keen grasp of complex technical issues, and a direct, business-focused approach. Before joining JAMS, Chambers USA ranked him annually among only five "Band 1" IP trial lawyers in Boston, citing his "stellar reputation for achieving outstanding results," describing him as "pragmatic and flexible," and "a great strategist." The IAM Patent 1000 praised his ability to " grasp the technical details of a particular patent matter to the same degree as the inventor." 

Steve is equally adept in life sciences and technology matters.  On the life sciences and chemistry side, his experience spans surgical, medical, genetic and bio-molecular diagnostic, research and therapeutic technologies (including DNA sequencing); high-temperature superconductors; nano and semiconductor materials; and lithium-ion battery chemistry. On the technology side, his cases have involved Artificial Intelligence (including large language models), algorithms and standards for voice recognition, speech generation, data encryption, and satellite communications; high-energy plasma devices; proton beam therapy; and smart phone components and architecture.

As one general counsel observed, “For more than a decade, I entrusted Steve with the most significant, most impactful, most complex IP litigation for my global technology company. His open, honest and direct approach, combined with his highly sophisticated legal acumen and technical excellence, helped us achieve fantastic results, and he always acted with integrity, sincerity and purpose.” 

ADR Experience and Qualifications

Steve Bauer’s ADR practice is national and international. In addition to being part of the JAMS Panel of Neutrals, Steve is an ADR Panelist for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and the Panel of Neutrals of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR).   He is a Fellow of the UK-based Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb); Chair of the ADR committee of AIPPI, the world’s largest international organization dedicated to intellectual property law; and Secretary of the Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center (SVAMC), where he is on its prestigious “Tech List.” In In addition to matters administered by JAMS, his cases have been administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). and the German Arbitration Institute (DIS). 

As a neutral, Steve is available to handle matters throughout the United States and internationally. He has conducted arbitrations or mediations not only in many major US cities, but also in Paris, London, Frankfurt, Zurich, and before the International Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. His cases have involved parties from the UK, China, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain.  

Steve brings to every matter not only his skill as a neutral, but also decades of experience as lead trial counsel representing emerging and mid-stage companies, multi-national businesses, and major research universities. Steve has tried cases in every major U.S. forum, and argued frequently before the Federal Circuit, including one en banc argument. He understands the logistics of technically complex cases, and how procedural context can shape a fair and efficient resolution.   

Drawing on this depth of experience, Steve help parties find creative and practical pathways to resolution. Clients consistently praise his ability to handle disputes across both the Life Sciences and Technology sectors. As one client put it, “the depth of Steve’s knowledge and experience with patent litigation marries incredibly well with his judgment, intuition and ability to read people, making him an exceptional strategic advisor and negotiator.”

Steve began his legal career as a law clerk and technical advisor to Judge Phillip Nichols, Jr., of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Representative Matters: Life Sciences, Medical Devices, Biology and Chemistry

• Sole Arbitrator in a dispute between a large pharmaceutical company and a supplier regarding development of a generic drug.
• Party-appointed Arbitrator between two large pharmaceutical companies regarding the scope of an R&D collaboration agreement.
• Party-appointed Arbitrator in Frankfurt, Germany between a large German and smaller US company regarding the scope of a patent license for pharmaceutical products.
• Sole Arbitrator in an arbitration between an inventor-doctor and a large medical devices company over the scope and term of a patent and know-how license. 
• Mediator in case between a large research university and a licensee on drug development.
• Mediator in case between two drug development companies related to an aborted joint venture, including claims of fraud, and trade secret misappropriation.
• Mediator in case relating to botulism-related products.
• Chair/Panel in arbitration relating to breach of contract in a medical device development agreement.
• Party-appointed Arbitrator in arbitration relating to the value of foreign patent rights related to a medical device. 
• Represented an emerging life sciences company in a patent infringement and misappropriation of trade secrets case relating to anchored multiplex PCR technology.
• Represented a publicly traded UK-based life sciences company in a multi-patent case relating to assays for detecting tuberculosis.
• Represented a large biotech company in defending a BPCIA case relating to its launch of a biosimilar to Avastin.
• Represented a National Laboratory in its enforcement of patents relating to lithium-ion battery material at the International Trade Commission.
• Represented a Japanese car company in a patent infringement action brought by the National Institute for Strategic Technology Acquisition and Commercialization on patents relating to automobile piston coating chemistry.
• Represented the patent owner in a license enforcement case relating to the p63 antibody, discovered at Harvard University and used to diagnose prostate cancer.
• Represented a major pharmaceutical company in an action for misappropriation of the idea to use thalidomide to treat multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood.
• Represented the world's leading manufacturer of dental crowns and implants, in the defense of a patent case relating to manufacturing technology.
• Represented a leading research university in a 35 U.S.C. § 146 appeal from the Patent Office regarding the scope of its patent on high-temperature superconducting technology.
• Represented a leading research university in a patent infringement and breach of contract case relating to RNAi technology.
• Represented a publicly traded company in an arbitration relating to a patent license dispute involving cryogenic cooling devices used for cosmetic laser surgery.
• Represented a major chemical company in the defense of a patent infringement action relating to the chemical components used in printed circuit board manufacture.
• Represented a technology start-up in a case against a large manufacturer, relating to its ultrafiltration products.
• Represented a large medical device company in asserting and then defending against patents relating to urological surgical devices. 

Representative Matters: Technology, Software and Electronics

• Mediator in a copyright infringement case relating to the training of AI models with third-party content.
• Arbitrator on a 3-person panel in a dispute between a Japanese and US company related to digital rights management standards and semi-conductor manufacturing.
• Mediator in patent infringement case between a large technology company and a consumer-oriented website.
• Mediator in a multi-patent case between two large sporting goods manufacturers.
• Sole Arbitrator in more than 10 arbitrations which were part of a mass arbitration involving age discrimination claims in the software industry. 
• Mediated case in Paris between parties from Hong Kong, France, Switzerland and the United States relating to semiconductor manufacturing technology.
• Mediated case between one of the largest technology companies and a start-up, relating to trade secrets for use in the AI industry. 
• Party-appointed Arbitrator in ICC-administered arbitration in Zurich, Switzerland, between a Japanese and US company relating to the scope of a patent and trade secret license.
• Mediator in a case relating to breach of a software license. 
• Represented a major cable provider in a suit against a large telecommunications company, involving twelve patents relating to set-top boxes, cable modems and VoIP telephony.
• Represented a number of leading technology companies in asserting patents related to digital television and electronic books.
• Lead counsel in two cases related to patented features of the iPhone.
• Represented a publicly traded company in a case relating to video-on-demand patents.
• Represented a major database company and large retailer in a case relating to the search algorithms powering online retail websites.
• Represented a major insurance company in a patent case involving insurance products.
• Represented major electronic components manufacturer in defending against five patents relating to digital signal processing in parallel computer architecture.
• Represented major electronic manufacturer in two district court and two ITC cases, asserting two patents and defending against two patents relating to micromechanical electronic (MEMS) microphones.
• Represented three telecommunications companies and their supplier in the defense of a patent case relating to VoIP switching technologies.
• Represented a California-based technology company in defense of six patents relating to network routers and bridges.
• Defended a technology start-up against patent infringement and trade secret claims brought relating to high-speed optical switching devices.
• Represented a publicly traded Canadian company in defending against a 15-patent complaint relating to the tracking of packaging using GPS and other technologies.
• Represented a privately held company in a nine-patent case relating to portable electronic printers.
• Represented a large technology company in a breach of patent license agreement dispute relating to error correction codes used in satellite communications.
• Represented a publicly traded company in asserting and defending against patents concerning systems for managing automated call centers. 
• Represented a large publicly traded company in patent infringement action relating to digital switching technology.
• Represented the leading manufacturer of video-on-demand servers, and its customer, a major cable company, in defending against three patents relating to video-on-demand services.
• Represented the largest provider of encryption technology against claims that its security product infringed three patents.
• Represented the largest provider of encryption technology in a patent license arbitration relating to an encryption algorithm.
• Represented the leading provider of plasma cutting torches in asserting six patents involving high-energy plasma nozzles.
• Represented a publicly traded company in two cases relating to high-energy plasma processing equipment.
• Represented a major research university in the enforcement of its 20-patent portfolio related to digital television transmission standards. 

• Chair of Panel in a matter involving trademarks in the petroleum industry. 
• Mediator in trademark case relating to cosmetic lasers.
• Mediator in case involving architectural drawings and copyrights.
• Mediator in a case relating to trademark rights in the automobile industry. Represented the U.S.'s largest supplier of home products against its largest competitor for infringement of utility and design patents, trade dress and copyrights in connection with various storage products.
• Represented the country's largest retailer of shoes in a trademark dispute relating to the stripes on running shoes.
• Boston counsel representing Facebook in a copyright and contract case relating to the invention of Facebook social network.

Federal Circuit Appeals

• MobileMedia Ideas LLC v. Apple Inc. (Fed. Cir. 2013)
• Ncube Corp. v. SeaChange Int'l. Inc., 732 F.3d 1346 (Fed. Cir. 2013)
• Speedtrack, Inc. v. Walmart.com USA, LLC, 524 Fed.Appx. 651, 106 U.S.P.Q.2d 1442 (Fed. Cir. 2013)
• Knowles Electronics v. ITC, 462 Fed.Appx. 957 (Fed. Cir. 2012)
• Knowles Electronics v. ITC, 2011, 458 Fed.Appx. 894 (Fed. Cir. 2011)
• Cognex Corp. v. ITC 2013 WL 6570781 (Fed. Cir. 2013)
• Lincoln National v. Transamerica Life, 609 F.3d 136 (Fed. Cir. 2010)
• Asymmetrx v. Biocare Medical, 582 F.3d 1314 (Fed. Cir. 2009)
• PSN Illinois v. Ivoclar Vivadent, 525 F.3d 1159 (Fed. Cir. 2008)
• Ncube Corp. v. SeaChange Int'l. Inc., 436 F.3d 1317 (Fed. Cir. 2006)
• MKS Instruments v. Advanced Energy, 58 Fed.Appx. 480 (Fed. Cir. 2003)
• Life Technologies v. Clontech Labs, 224 F.3d 1320 (Fed. Cir. 2000)
• Pall Corp. v. Micron Separations, Inc., 66 F.3d 1211 (Fed. Cir.1995)(en banc)

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

Completed Virtual ADR training conducted by the JAMS Institute, the training arm of JAMS.

Selected Awards and Honors

Background and Education