IP Litigation Department of the Year - Finalist
Kirkland was named a finalist for "IP Litigation Department of the Year" in American Lawyer Media's biennial survey. One of the most prominent achievements was Kirkland's successful defense of Pioneer Corporation against Gemstar's accusations of patent infringement. This was the largest patent case to be presented before the International Trade Commission.
Other noteworthy cases include Bill Streff's defense jury victory for Kubota Corporation in a tractor patent infringement case against Deere & Company; Robert Krupka's win of an injunction for National Steel Car that prevented Canadian Pacific Railway Limited from shipping lumber to the U.S. on a patented type of rail car; Kirkland's win on trial and on appeal for General Motors in a case where Daimler Chrysler Corporation claimed that the H2 Hummer grille violated the trademark design of Jeeps; and Kenneth Starr's reversal win before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in a case for IDX Systems Corporation. The case eventually settled after Kirkland won a key summary judgment ruling for IDX.