The intricacies of intellectual property litigation present many challenges, and even experienced attorneys sometimes fail to navigate them well. But McDermott Will & Emery partner David Dolkas has written a book intended to serve as a practical, accessible guide for dealing with complicated cases: “Managing Complex IP Litigation” (LexisNexis, 2014).

Dolkas, a partner in McDermott’s Silicon Valley office, remembers when as a young partner in the 1990s he suddenly found himself handling a complex case for the first time. Prior to that, he’d tried smaller cases. But this one was different: The trial was expected to last three weeks; it involved multiple legal and factual issues; it revolved around complex technology and industry practices; it meant dealing with a vast number of documents; and it would require the questioning of a large cast of witnesses.

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“My goal is to offer an entertaining and informative guide to litigators and in-house counsel on how complex cases should be handled,” he said. “Even today, there isn’t much taught in law schools or law firms on how to make the transition between handling one aspect of a complex case to leading a whole project or an entire case.”

In his introduction, Dolkas describes in detail a dysfunctional litigation team—painting a nightmare scenario and a picture of a case that is overbudget and “no fun.” He then details the importance of project management to complex litigation.

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Tags: Complex IP Litigation, Instruction Manual, intellectual property litigation, McDermott Will & Emery partner David Dolkas