Ronald E. Cahill

Ron Cahill is a nationally recognized intellectual property trial lawyer and Chair of Barnes & Thornburg’s Life Sciences Practice Group. He focuses his practice on complex patent, trademark, and trade dress litigation, representing innovative companies in high-stakes intellectual property disputes across the United States. Known for his ability to distill highly technical scientific and engineering concepts into persuasive courtroom arguments, Ron regularly serves as first-chair trial counsel in sophisticated intellectual property matters.

With decades of litigation experience, Ron has led trial teams in patent infringement cases involving a broad range of technologies, including medical devices, engineered biologics, pharmaceuticals, and advanced engineering products. He also represents clients before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in inter partes reviews (IPRs) and other proceedings challenging patent validity, while handling trademark and trade dress disputes in federal courts and before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). His extensive courtroom experience is complemented by strategic counseling on intellectual property enforcement, portfolio management, licensing, and business transactions.

Ron is particularly well known for his work in the life sciences sector, where he advises biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical technology companies on cutting-edge intellectual property issues. His experience includes matters involving CAR-T cancer therapies, personalized medicine, genetic engineering, enzyme inhibitors, and biologic products, as well as complex legal questions relating to patent validity, infringement, written description, enablement, and patentability. Clients also rely on his strategic guidance when evaluating litigation, competitive risks, and opportunities to strengthen their market position.

Beyond his litigation practice, Ron is an active leader within the intellectual property community. He has helped develop legislative proposals addressing attorney fee shifting and patentable subject matter, frequently speaks on intellectual property strategy and portfolio development, and is regularly quoted in the business press on emerging IP issues. His combination of courtroom advocacy, technical knowledge, and strategic business insight has earned him a reputation as one of the nation’s leading intellectual property trial attorneys.