Paul Steadman

Partner

Co-Chair, US Trade Secrets Practice
Co-Chair, Chicago Intellectual Property Practice

Emailpaul.steadman@us.dlapiper.com

About

Paul Steadman is a first-chair trial lawyer and Chambers-ranked intellectual property (IP) litigator who defends global companies in their highest-stakes patent, trade secret, and IP disputes. He leads organized, aggressive strike teams of trial lawyers, built around the specific technology and forum at issue and designed to take the pressure off in-house counsel when a competitor or non-practicing entity puts a company's products, supply chain, or US market access on the line.

Paul's record reflects the stakes his clients face. He served as lead counsel to Toyota in a Section 337 investigation at the International Trade Commission in which Broadcom asserted six patents, securing a complete victory and defeating the exclusion order that would have barred Toyota vehicles from the US market. He was the tech lead for a leading technology company in a summary judgment victory defeating Fintiv's patent assertions. He currently serves as lead counsel in trade secret disputes for a major international auto manufacturer and a leading surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic.

Paul has appeared as lead trial counsel in jury trials, in Section 337 investigations at the ITC, in Markman claim construction and other evidentiary hearings, in federal and state court appeals including before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, in United States Bankruptcy Court, and in mediations and arbitrations.

Paul works especially closely with Japanese and Korean companies and co-chairs DLA Piper's US-Japan practice, having built those relationships in person over many years — including through DLA Piper's annual Global Patent Symposium across Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya and the firm's seminar series in Seoul. As Co-Chair of DLA Piper's US Trade Secrets practice, he counsels global companies on protecting proprietary technology amid the AI revolution, employee, supplier and joint-venture transitions, and M&A, and he handles the trademark and advertising disputes that often travel alongside a company's core IP. He writes and speaks frequently on trade secret protection, including the implications of AI for safeguarding proprietary information.

In 2025, Chambers USA recognized Paul as a leading IP lawyer for the fifth consecutive year. Clients praise that "the level of professionalism, experience, and gravitas Paul demonstrates offers my board, senior management team, and investors a high level of reassurance and confidence," and that "it is really comfortable and smooth to talk with him about any strategic discussion." IAM Patent 1000 2025 ranks Paul as a leading patent litigator, describing him as "a tenacious trial lawyer with excellent leadership abilities" who "also puts in winning performances at the ITC and all other US forums for patent disputes."

With degrees in Materials Science Engineering and Economics and a strong background in the materials, mechanical, and electrical arts, Paul is comfortable in almost any technology — and able to make it clear and persuasive to a judge or jury. His work spans standard-essential patents, semiconductors and integrated circuits, automotive safety systems and sensors, automotive infotainment and navigation, electric-vehicle and powertrain technology, medical devices and imaging, high-tech glass, consumer electronics, and software, among many other fields.

Areas of FocusIntellectual Property Trade Secrets Automotive Technology Patent Litigation

Bar admissionsDistrict of ColumbiaIllinoisUnited States Patent and Trademark Office

CourtsUnited States District Court for the Northern District of IllinoisUnited States District Court for the Central District of IllinoisUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of TexasUnited States District Court for the Western District of TexasUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of MichiganUnited States District Court for the Western District of WisconsinUnited States District Court for the District of OklahomaUnited States Court of Appeals for the Federal CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Second CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Awards

Chambers USA

Band 2, Illinois Intellectual Property, (2025 – 2026)
Band 3, Illinois Intellectual Property, (2023 – 2024)
Band 4, Illinois Intellectual Property, (2021 – 2022)

The Legal 500 United States

Recommended, Patents: Litigation (International Trade Commission), (2016 – 2021, 2026)
Recommended, Trade Secrets (Litigation and Non-Contentious Matters), (2019 – 2021, 2023 – 2026)
The Legal 500 United States 2023 noted that "Paul R. Steadman and Matthew D. Satchwell in [DLA Piper's] Chicago office are very powerful, trustworthy and experienced trial lawyers in intellectual property litigations before Federal District Courts, Federal Circuit and ITC. Both Paul and Matt are strong team leaders to lead their litigation team and other outside counsels in a joint defense arrangement" and “Paul Steadman and Shuzo Maruyama understand technologies, industry, and IP practices very well. Their advices are always practical and quick."
Recommended, Patents Litigation: Full Coverage, (2016 – 2022, 2024)
Recommended, Patents: Licensing, (2021)

Additional Awards

Paul was included in the 2025 edition of POWER PLAYERS Trade Secrets - Distinguished Advisers by Financier Worldwide.

Paul received the 2019 Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service from the United States District Court, in conjunction with the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

The IAM Patent 1000 states Paul's "Chicago patent litigation team does not just show up on the doorstep when companies get sued – it likes to get to grips with clients and understand their business at an intimate level. In line with this, the DLA Piper partners are hands on and routinely go the extra mile to visit those they represent – wherever they are in the world – which, for Paul Steadman and Matthew Satchwell, means lots of trips to Japan. Hailed by eminent peers as 'strong advocates who produce excellent written and oral work', these two dynamic and no-nonsense litigators are 'devastatingly effective in the courtroom.' They are in especially hot demand for representation when fights kick off in the automotive space, but their wins are notched up across the high-tech domain. They score additional points for running things at the ITC and making judicious use of the firm's rich chest of global resources whenever it is advantageous.

Paul is also part of an active IP practice lauded by several publications including those by BTI Consulting and Corporate Counsel. The practice has been selected by BTI as one of the "Best of the Best" IP law firms for more than five years. The firm was recognized by BTI's Client Service 30 in 2019, recognizing the top firms who deliver the absolute best in client service, and has named DLA Piper to "The Awesome Opponents" list in BTI's Most Feared Firms in Litigation publication.

Pro Bono

Paul has had an active pro bono practice, including high-profile litigation on trademark and copyright matters. He has represented the Chicago Justice Project in FOIA litigation for many years, including against the Cook County States Attorney and the Illinois Department of Corrections. He has twice represented a class of all children detained at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Facility (resulting in improved confinement conditions for all children held at the facility). He has represented an inmate at Cook County Jail for violations to US Constitutional rights.

Education

J.D., The University of Chicago Law School, 1996

B.S., Material Science Engineering, Rice University, 1991

B.S., Economics, Rice University, 1991

Bylines