Paul J. Skiermont

Paul J. Skiermont

Dallas, TX recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2021
Skiermont Derby LLP

5 Best Lawyers awards

Skiermont Derby LLP logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Litigation - Intellectual Property Litigation - Patent

Biography

Paul Skiermont is a trial lawyer representing companies both large and small in complex science and technology matters, including pharmaceuticals and other life sciences, natural language processing, telecommunications, aerospace, speech recognition, consumer electronics, and related litigation. He has been ranked as one of the Top 12 IP litigation attorneys in Texas since 2015 by Intellectual Asset Management, an industry guide that identifies the top patent practitioners in key jurisdictions around the globe. In its decision, the guide highlighted Paul’s “brilliant litigation instinct.”

Prior to founding his own firm, Paul was a partner at Bartlit Beck LLP, a nationally renowned litigation boutique known for its success in high-stakes cases. He represented Pratt & Whitney and prevailed in an alleged multi-billion dollar patent infringement lawsuit over the engines that power the A380 superjumbo aircraft, and also represented Bayer in its successful defense of the landmark antitrust class action involving the antibiotic Cipro.

Skiermont Derby LLP has been recognized by online legal news service Law360 as one of 10 national boutique practices “that have established brands on par with the biggest firms” and are “capable of competing with – and beating – the best big firms at the highest level.” The firm offers a variety of alternative fee agreements to clients based on the value of its work, as an alternative to the number of hours it spends working on a case.

Skiermont Derby LLP

5 Best Lawyers awards

Skiermont Derby LLP logo

Overview

  • University of Chicago, J.D. High Honors, Order of the Coif, graduated 2001
  • University of Kentucky, B.A., cum laude

  • Texas, State Bar of Texas
  • Illinois, State Bar of Illinois

  • American Bar Association - Member
  • Dallas Bar Association - Member
  • Federal Circuit Bar Association - Member
  • Illinois Bar Association - Member
  • Licensing Executives Society - Member
  • Texas Bar Association - Member
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association - Member

  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • United States District Court for the District of Nebraska
  • Texas, State Bar of Texas
  • Illinois, State Bar of Illinois
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • Dallas Bar Association - Member
  • Federal Circuit Bar Association - Member
  • Illinois Bar Association - Member
  • Licensing Executives Society - Member
  • Texas Bar Association - Member
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association - Member
  • University of Chicago, J.D. High Honors, Order of the Coif, graduated 2001
  • University of Kentucky, B.A., cum laude
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • United States District Court for the District of Nebraska

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Litigation - Intellectual Property
  • Litigation - Patent
Awards:
  • Best Lawyers in America, Intellectual Property Litigation, 2021-2024
  • Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2018-2023
  • IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders – The World’s Leading IP Strategists, 2020-2022
  • IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners, 2014-2022
  • Best Law Firms by U.S. News and Best Lawyers, 2022
  • Life Sciences Litigation Star - Legal Media Group / Euromoney, 2012-2016
  • Named a Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers, 2010-2013
  • Named a Rising Star by Illinois Super Lawyers, 2010, 2011
  • Twice Awarded First Place Speaker at the Intercollegiate National Debate Tournament (NDT); one of only three people to win the award twice since the NDT began in 1947.

Additional Information

  • Community Involvement
Board Member, University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions Foundation
  • Speaking Engagements
Panelist, “Exploring Advancements in Strategies for Alternative Fee Arrangements and Value-Based Fee Structure”; Managing Legal Costs Symposium, 2012
  • Speaking Engagements
Panelist, “Perspectives on the Utility of Third Party Financing in Today’s Legal Economy”; Commercial Litigation Funding & Investment Conference, 2011 & 2012
  • Speaking Engagements
Featured Speaker, “The role of patents and intellectual property in speech technology and business decisions”; AVIOS Voice Search Conference, 2009
  • Speaking Engagements
Featured Speaker, “Crafting Value-Based Alternative Fees that are Practical and Profitable”; C4CM Conference, 2011
  • Speaking Engagements
Featured Speaker, “IP 101: Keeping Your Business Treasures Safe”; Entrepreneurial Development Network, 2012
  • Speaking Engagements
Featured Speaker, “Footprints in the Marketplace: Patent Enforcement Strategies to Maximize Value”; ICAP Patent Brokerage/Ocean Tomo Summit on IP Strategy, 2012

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