Top 50 Under 45

From appellate guru to anti-counterfeiting strategist—all through the varied spectrum of IP— these winners are distinguished by their sheer brainpower, legal smarts, creativity and hard work.

David Callahan, 43
Partner
Kirkland & Ellis

A political science major from the University of Chicago, David Callahan learned electronic warfare, including cryptography, as a U.S. Army Reserve captain. The military discipline has served him well. A University of Michigan Law School grad, Callahan has commanded the defense in key patent infringement wins for 3M, Amazon.com, and Gast Manufacturing in cases covering everything from one-click Internet payment systems to chewing gum additives and dental compounds. He has excelled at big-ticket defense cases involving multiple patents and parties, where his leadership and organizational skills—to say nothing of his legal marksmanship—force plaintiffs to duck.

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