Michael F. "Mike" Heim

Michael F. "Mike" Heim

Houston, TX recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2006
Heim, Payne & Chorush LLP

7 Best Lawyers awards

Heim, Payne & Chorush LLP logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Litigation - Patent Litigation - Intellectual Property
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Houston.

Biography

Heim, Payne & Chorush co-founder Michael Heim specializes exclusively in intellectual property litigation and antitrust lawsuits involving intellectual property. Mr. Heim represents plaintiffs and defendants throughout the United States in patent litigation in a wide range of technologies including microprocessors, computer architecture, memory control systems, cellular telephone systems, data transmission systems, on-line gaming systems, database caching software, logging-while-drilling systems, and a host of other technologies. He has led litigation teams from complaint to judgment in federal district courts in the Eastern District of Texas and across the country, winning favorable verdicts and settlements for his clients.

Mr. Heim has expertise in evaluating patent portfolios and developing strategies to enforce and license those portfolios. With formidable legal instincts and technical acumen, he is able to understand and communicate highly complex technical and legal issues to both judges and jurors, allowing him to help protect countless innovative ideas on behalf of his clients. Mr. Heim has also successfully litigated class action antitrust lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies that abuse patent laws to maintain a competitive advantage.

Mr. Heim has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Missouri with numerous academic honors. He received his J.D. degree from The George Washington University Law School, also with honors. While in law school, he served three years as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, with his primary work focusing on electrical communications and computer software and hardware. His numerous professional accolades include recognition by Chambers USA, the IAM Patent 1000 and Texas Super Lawyers, as well as being named an IP Trailblazer by the National Law Journal.

Heim, Payne & Chorush LLP

7 Best Lawyers awards

Heim, Payne & Chorush LLP logo

Overview

  • University of Missouri, B.S., graduated 1983
  • George Washington University, J.D., with honors, graduated 1986

  • Texas, State Bar of Texas

  • American Bar Association (Intellectual Property Section) - Member
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association - Member
  • Houston Bar Association - Member
  • Houston Intellectual Property Law Association - Past President
  • State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Law Association - Past President

  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States Patent & Trademark Office
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • Texas, State Bar of Texas
  • American Bar Association (Intellectual Property Section) - Member
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association - Member
  • Houston Bar Association - Member
  • Houston Intellectual Property Law Association - Past President
  • State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Law Association - Past President
  • University of Missouri, B.S., graduated 1983
  • George Washington University, J.D., with honors, graduated 1986
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States Patent & Trademark Office
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

Client Testimonials

Mike is first class. His experience in both patent prosecution and litigation are exceptional. He and his team worked with our other litigation counsel, Susman Godfrey LLP, with great success. His courtroom presence is outstanding. He and the members of his team were precise, diligent, and very hard working. I would strongly recommend them.

Eric Dickman (Superspeed, LLC)

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2026 - Litigation - Patent Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Litigation - Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Litigation - Patent Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2022 - Litigation - Patent Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Litigation - Intellectual Property
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Litigation - Patent, Houston (2026)
  • Litigation - Intellectual Property, Houston (2024)
  • Litigation - Patent, Houston (2024)
  • Litigation - Patent, Houston (2022)
  • Litigation - Intellectual Property, Houston (2020)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Litigation - Intellectual Property
  • Litigation - Patent
Special Focus:
  • Antitrust
  • Electronics
  • Litigation
  • Patent
  • Software
  • Unfair Trade Practices
Awards:
  • Lawyer of the Year 2020 for IP Litigation in Houston, by Best Lawyers
  • IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists, 2019-2020
  • Chambers USA, 2005-2021, America's Leading Lawyers for Business
  • Best Lawyers in America, 2006-2021
  • IP Stars, 2018-2020, by Managing Intellectual Property magazine
  • Selected to the IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Professionals, 2017-2021
  • Texas Super Lawyers, 2004-2021, by Thomson Reuters
  • Ranked among the Best Law Firms, 2016-2021, by US News & World Report and Best Lawyers
  • Top 100 Super Lawyers in Houston, 2018, by Thomson Reuters
  • Patent Stars, 2017, by Managing Intellectual Property magazine
  • Best Lawyers in Houston, 2004-2019, by H Texas Magazine
  • Best IP Lawyers in America, 2007-2014, by IP Law & Business
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Texas, 2007, by Forbes Magazine
  • AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Case History

Cases
  • IP Case
MicroUnity Systems Engineering, Inc. v. Apple, Inc. et al (representing plaintiff)
  • IP Case
Fractus, S.A. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al (represented plaintiff, obtained favorable settlements from defendants and a $23 million jury verdict against Samsung)
  • IP Settlement
PalTalk Holdings, Inc. v. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. et al (represented plaintiff, obtained favorable settlements shortly before trial)
  • IP Settlement
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation v. Lenovo (United States) Inc. et al (represented plaintiff, obtained favorable settlements shortly before trial)
  • IP Case
Interval Licensing v. AOL, Inc. et al (representing plaintiff)
  • IP Settlement
MicroUnity Systems Engineering, Inc. v. Intel Corporation and Dell, Inc. (represented plaintiff and obtaining a confidential settlement of the case one month before trial, which Intel disclosed in its 2005 Q3 10-Q as $300 million)
  • IP Settlement
SuperSpeed, LLC v. IBM Corp. (represented plaintiff and obtained a favorable confidential settlement)
  • IP Case
UniRAM Technology, Inc. v. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (represented plaintiff and obtained a jury verdict of $30.5 million in damages)
  • IP Settlement
Two-Way Media vs. AOL (represented plaintiff and obtained a favorable settlement during trial, and after a successful Markman ruling)
  • IP Settlement
In re Buspar (represented the Direct Purchaser class of plaintiffs and obtained a $220 million settlement)

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