Steve Borgman is Team Leader of the firm’s Mechanical and Medical Device Patent practice and co-lead for the firm's Design Rights practice. With a distinguished career spanning nearly 40 years, Steve provides the elite, full-spectrum intellectual property counsel that businesses need to protect their innovations and navigate high-stakes risks. As an experienced patent attorney, he actively prosecutes patents and designs forward-thinking strategies to scale and protect his clients' assets, managing expansive global portfolios that encompass hundreds of U.S. and foreign patents and applications. Steve’s transactional practice focuses on driving strategic growth and securing market positions, regularly advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, high-value license and technology agreements, and critical freedom-to-operate opinions. Throughout his career, Steve has delivered tailored intellectual property solutions across a diverse array of sectors, working extensively with industries such as oil and gas, drilling, energy, power, packaging, software, and telecommunications.
When disputes arise, Steve brings a formidable courtroom presence as a battle-tested litigator across a wide range of industries. He has successfully handled numerous intellectual property litigation matters in federal courts throughout the United States and before the International Trade Commission (ITC). Highly sought after for his courtroom leadership, Steve has served as lead counsel defending clients in patent cases in federal courts nationwide, including the Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western District Courts of Texas—most recently securing successful resolutions in numerous cases within the Western District. Beyond his extensive patent litigation track record, Steve offers comprehensive IP versatility across a broad range of technologies, possessing deep experience with trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, and a wide variety of other complex litigation matters. Furthermore, he has experience with intellectual property arbitration and mediation, offering clients a seasoned approach to securing efficient, favorable outcomes both inside and outside the courtroom.
Steve is listed in the 2017 and 2018 editions of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as a recognized practitioner in the area of Intellectual Property. He was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® in 2025 and 2026 for Intellectual Property Litigation. Steve was recognized as an "IP Star" in 2025 and the five years immediately preceding and also in 2017 and the three years immediately preceding by Managing Intellectual Property magazine. He was named a top patent litigation practitioner in 2017, 2021, 2024, 2025 and 2026 by IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners. Steve was named a "Patent Leader" in 2025 by World IP Review. Steve was listed as a "Leading Global IP Lawyer" in 2025 and 2026 by Lawdragon.
Experience
Obtained an early dismissal of patent infringement claims before discovery and with no payment by the client. Provided plaintiff’s counsel with information regarding the case and persuaded plaintiff’s counsel to drop the case.
Secured a dismissal of a patent case without any payment by our client after persuading the patent holder to pursue a client’s vendor and persuading the vendor to indemnify our client.
Successfully protected the intellectual property rights of Space Center Houston by identifying trademark infringement and securing a comprehensive brand transition from an adverse party without the need for litigation. Facilitated a total name and mark change through strategic pre-litigation correspondence, ensuring the continued exclusivity of the client’s brand identity.
Negotiated and obtained settlements of numerous pre-litigation claims of patent infringement and patent licensing offers for nominal amounts and sometimes no payment at all.
Successfully executed a strategic defense of patent infringement claims in the Western District of Texas. Secured stays in two companion cases by successfully moving to sever claims against the client from co-defendants and obtained stays of the severed cases, thus effectively pausing litigation and insulating the client from the primary dispute while preserving resources and minimizing exposure.
Served as lead IP counsel in the sale and purchase of a majority stake in a transaction with a reported value of $1.5 billion.
Prepared and negotiated a technology development agreement and accompanying purchase and supply agreement for new oilfield equipment.
*Provided IP diligence and advice to lead investors in $588 million merger resulting in a combined publicly listed hydraulic fracturing company.
*Provided counseling advice to his client, a major contract drilling company engaged in oil and gas well drilling and related services for exploration and production companies, in connection with its acquisition of a company that provides a full range of survey management services.
*Assisted that same client with the agreement in the acquisition of a company that provides unique technologies and services for lowering the cost and improving the accuracy and performance of drilling operations, for $75 million payable at closing and up to another $25 million in potential earn out payments.
*Obtained complete victory for a client accused of patent infringement and misappropriation of trade secrets in connections with computer software and methods for horizontal drilling of oil and gas wells.
*Represented a network service provider in a patent infringement case in the W.D. of Texas relating to telecommunication networks. Obtained dismissal of the case for lack of patentable subject matter prior to any discovery. The case settled while on appeal by plaintiff.
*Led the defense of a power supplier in a case in the Eastern District of Texas involving mesh wireless systems for energy management. Obtained dismissal with no payments.
*Experience gained by attorney prior to joining Kilpatrick
Insights View All
Copyright Litigation & Counseling
Asset Creation - Prosecution & Counseling
Licensing, Transactions & Monetization
Iowa State University B.S. (1983) Industrial Engineering
University of Iowa College of Law J.D. (1986) with high distinction, Order of the Coif
Texas (1986)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (1988)
American Intellectual Property Law Association, Member
State Bar of Texas, Intellectual Property Law Section, Member
Houston Intellectual Property Inn of Court, Member
Houston Intellectual Property Law Association, Member
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