This firm began in 2013 under the name Sulzer Green Taylor PLLC and was conceived to provide sophisticated legal representation and a cost-effective alternative to Big Law. The firm’s practice centered around patent litigation, patent prosecution, and general business litigation matters. In an exciting development, the firm reconfigured itself to represent an innovative and highly significant start-up insurance carrier and related national association. The firm’s name was changed to Stephen L. Sulzer PLLC and Stephen L. Sulzer, one of the firm’s founding members, became the start-up’s outside General Counsel.
Mr. Sulzer has also expanded the firm’s practice to encompass firearms law and regulation, with particular emphasis on criminal and civil matters involving the defensive use of firearms. He also represents clients in Second Amendment challenges to state and federal gun control laws and in regulatory disputes involving federal and state firearms regulations. In recognition of Mr. Sulzer’s expertise in these areas, he has been named as a referral attorney by the Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network, Inc. and as an emergency response team attorney by the United States Concealed Carry Association.
Mr. Sulzer is also now successfully representing clients in medical malpractice, wrongful death, and personal injury litigation in state and federal courts. His considerable knowledge of human physiology and medicine and his ability to simplify complex subject matter enable him to litigate and present these cases to judges and juries more effectively than the usual plaintiff’s law firm or defense counsel.
For decades, Big Law’s insistence on preserving or even increasing its margins has put important legal services beyond the reach of many small and mid-sized clients. This firm was formed to provide sophisticated legal services at rates that make economic sense, without sacrificing quality of work, and has continued that approach as Stephen L. Sulzer PLLC. If you insist on top-tier work quality, but are overpaying for it, or aren’t getting it from your existing counsel, Stephen L. Sulzer PLLC offers you a better solution.
Scope of Practice
- Firearms Law ― Mr. Sulzer has expanded his practice to encompass firearms law and regulation, with particular emphasis on criminal and civil matters involving the defensive use of firearms. He also represents individuals, firearms manufacturers, and firearms retailers in Second Amendment challenges to state and federal gun control laws and in regulatory disputes involving federal and state firearms regulations.
- Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death, and Personal Injury Litigation ― Mr. Sulzer is also now successfully representing plaintiffs in medical malpractice, wrongful death, and personal injury litigation. His considerable knowledge and understanding of human physiology and medicine and his ability to simplify complex subject matter enable him to litigate and present these cases to judges and juries more effectively than the usual plaintiff’s law firm or defense counsel. He has also implemented a flexible, client-friendly approach to fee arrangements which increases individual clients’ access to the legal system.
- Patent Litigation ― Mr. Sulzer represents plaintiffs and defendants in patent-related trials and appeals in the federal courts nationwide, before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and in the Supreme Court of the United States. He has handled complex cases involving the mechanical, electrical, and chemical arts. Mr. Sulzer also has significant experience representing complainants and respondents in Section 337 investigations before the ITC. He has a track record of success in his clients’ most important patent litigations, including significant victories in bet-the-company disputes.
- Antitrust Litigation ― Mr. Sulzer represents plaintiffs and defendants in antitrust disputes in the courts and before the ITC, including trials and appeals. He has successfully handled antitrust cases across a broad range of product and service industries, including gasoline, laser control systems, optical discs, photocopiers, pharmaceutical packaging, and sports governing bodies and standard-setting organizations, among others. Some of his cases originate in patent disputes, and others are free-standing, non-IP related antitrust disputes.
- Unfair Competition and General Business Disputes ― Mr. Sulzer also handles unfair competition and general business disputes, including the usual panoply of business torts and breach of contract matters, on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution ― Mr. Sulzer is experienced in arbitrations, mediations, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution, with a track record of success on behalf of his clients.
Who We Are
Stephen L. Sulzer
Mr. Sulzer represents clients in a variety of areas, including firearms law and regulation, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and personal injury litigation, and patent, antitrust, and unfair competition litigation and counseling. He brings Big Law litigation expertise, an extraordinary level of personal commitment, and a track record of success to every matter, large or small.
For three decades, he has been trial counsel in numerous federal court and ITC proceedings, including several of the ITC’s most significant Section 337 investigations. He is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Sulzer has also been selected by American Lawyer Media as a Top Rated Lawyer in Intellectual Property and Litigation and as one of Washington DC & Baltimore’s Top Rated Lawyers. In addition, Mr. Sulzer is recognized internationally as an
expert in patent licensing and licensing-related antitrust issues. For more than a decade, he taught a graduate-level class on licensing and related antitrust and misuse concerns for the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.
Mr. Sulzer is often called upon to take over matters in which other lawyers were unable to obtain the client’s desired results, and he has a long track record of success in the federal courts and before the ITC. For example, Mr. Sulzer:
- Obtained summary judgment of non-infringement and affirmance before the Federal Circuit on behalf of Toyoda Gosei North America Corp., TG Fluid Systems USA Corp., and A. Raymond, Inc. in Honeywell International, Inc. v. ITT Industries, Inc., 452 F.3d 1312 (Fed. Cir. 2006), a patent infringement action brought by Honeywell relating to electrically conductive fuel filters.
- Represented complainant in In re Certain Wire Electrical Discharge Machining Apparatus, ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-290, the first investigation in which the ITC granted a remedy to a foreign owner of a U.S. patent.
- Led the successful defense of Chrysler’s and Magna’s integrated child seat in a series of patent infringement actions, culminating in entry of summary judgment of non-infringement in Hassel v. Chrysler Corp., 43 U.S.P.Q.2d (BNA) 1554 (S.D. Ohio 1997).
- Represented DiscoVision Associates in a series of actions to enforce its portfolio of patents on optical disc technology, including successful trial of infringement and validity issues in DiscoVision Associates v. Disc Manufacturing, Inc., 25 F. Supp.2d 301 (D. Del. 1998).
- Successfully represented Zurich Insurance Co. in the first litigated bond forfeiture proceeding before the ITC, in Certain Lens-Fitted Film Packages, ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-406.
Mr. Sulzer’s IP practice involves diverse technologies, including B2B electronic clearinghouse systems, e-commerce and data encryption, computer network security systems, Internet convergence technology, a wide range of automotive components (e.g., fuel system, vehicle interior, frame reinforcement, and passive restraint system components), industrial laser control systems, robotics, machine tools, medical devices, wireless computer gaming devices, optical disc technology, color electronic pre-press computer and imaging equipment, security system control software, satellite technology, pharmaceuticals, power generation equipment, packaging for pharmaceutical, food, and other consumer products, and paper products. He also has significant experience litigating U.S. design patents.
Mr. Sulzer is also now nationally recognized for his expertise in the law of self-defense and in matters involving firearms law and regulation. He developed and teaches a course on the lawful use of firearms for self-defense in Virginia which has become the gold standard for individuals who rely on firearms for personal and home defense. He has also developed and teaches a course on Virginia’s constitutionally-flawed red flag law and courses on the lawful use of firearms for self-defense in the District of Columbia and the State of Florida. Like Mr. Sulzer’s Virginia law of self-defense course, his D.C. and Florida courses make the complex law of self-defense and its tactical implications readily understandable to the lay person. These courses are available for purchase at the National Firearms Law Institute’s web site, i.e.: nationalfirearmslaw.com.
Mr. Sulzer also represents individual clients, firearms manufacturers, and firearms retailers in Second Amendment challenges to state and federal gun control laws and in regulatory disputes involving federal and state firearms regulations. Most recently, for example, he has successfully represented clients seeking to: (i) reverse the District of Columbia’s refusal to issue a concealed carry permit; and (ii) obtain restoration of the right to keep and bear arms in Virginia. In recognition of his expertise, Mr. Sulzer has been named as a referral attorney by the Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network, Inc. and as an emergency response team attorney by the United States Concealed Carry Association.
Mr. Sulzer is also now successfully representing plaintiffs in medical malpractice, wrongful death, and personal injury litigation. His considerable knowledge and understanding of human physiology and medicine and his ability to simplify complex subject matter enable him to litigate and present these cases to judges and juries more effectively than the usual plaintiff’s law firm or defense counsel. Mr. Sulzer gives every client’s case his individual attention and he will not employ a cookie-cutter or assembly-line approach to your matter. He also takes a flexible, client-friendly approach to fee arrangements which increases individual clients’ access to the legal system.
Mr. Sulzer obtained his J.D. from Emory University School of Law in 1980 and was on the Emory Law Journal’s Board of Editors. He obtained a B.A. from Northwestern University in 1977.
An Invitation
With his background and experience, Mr. Sulzer knows what you want and need from legal counsel, particularly in terms of service and value. He also knows that you probably aren’t getting it from your existing lawyers. Mr. Sulzer invites you to call so he can help reduce your legal costs, while exceeding the quality of service and responsiveness you get from your existing attorneys.
Contact Us
Stephen L. Sulzer PLLC
700 12th Street, N.W., Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20005
Main telephone line: 202-499-2301
Fax line: 202-558-5101
Email: info@sulzerpllc.com
Stephen L. Sulzer
Direct dial: 703-899-2903
Email: ssulzer@sulzerpllc.com