Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Intellectual Property and Technology Disputes

Partner - Litigation and Investigations

Cory Smith is a registered patent attorney whose practice focuses on intellectual property law and technology transactions, with an emphasis on computer-related technologies. He has extensive experience in patent preparation and prosecution, patent litigation and pre-litigation, post-grant proceedings, patent analysis and counseling (including tear-down, freedom-to-operate, invalidity, and infringement opinions), trademark preparation and prosecution, trademark counseling, trademark disputes, copyright preparation and prosecution, and copyright disputes. He is also considered a thought leader on the intersection of patent and artificial intelligence issues.

Cory regularly handles patent matters in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions in many areas of technology, including computer software, computer hardware, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cryptography, computer networking, data communications, robotics, electronics, sensing systems, imaging, simulators, data science applications, machine learning and large language models, block chain, cybersecurity, virtual reality, payment services, financial technology, agricultural technology, e-commerce technology, mobile applications, business applications, business methods, mechanical devices, construction materials, sports equipment, toys, and consumer goods.

He has handled many technology transactions, including negotiating software acquisitions and licenses, handling intellectual property and software aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate transactions, and performing due diligence. Cory also has extensive experience handling open source software issues. Additionally, he has handled various pro bono matters, including assisting nonprofits with intellectual property issues and representing low-income parents in severance and adoption proceedings.

Cory has a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering.  His technical experience includes a position as an engineer at IBM, where he designed and developed data storage systems.

Prior to joining the firm, Cory served as a law clerk for the Honorable A. John Pelander at the Arizona Supreme Court.  During law school, he served as managing editor of the Arizona Law Review and as secretary of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society. Cory also served as an extern for the Honorable Paul E. Tang of the Pima County Superior Court.

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT & HONORS Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch, Patent Law, 2024 DeConcini, McDonald, Yetwin & Lacy Academic Achievement Award